'He constantly kept me in check' - Star India batter Virat Kohli opens up about his sheer support during his mental health battle

Star India batter Virat Kohli has been phenomenal throughout the ongoing ODI World Cup 2023. Kohli has been the highest run scorer for India in the ongoing tournament, with 543 runs in eight innings under his belt. He has also scored two centuries and four half-centuries in the last eight innings. However, just a year ago, Kohli was not in this sublime form.

The 35-year-old batter was struggling to make runs in all three formats and was being criticised for his poor performances. Things were not going well with him as he was battling with mental health. However, things turned out to be best for him as he got back in his zone. Since last year's Asia Cup, he has been the highest run scorer for India in international cricket and has been ruling the world like an emperor.

Meanwhile, Kohli has finally opened up about his biggest support during the worst phase of his career. He revealed that former Indian mental conditioning coach Paddy Upton was a big help for him. Kohli praised him for his constant support and amazing work ethic. While speaking with Star Sports, he said, “I had a lot of conversations with him, and I appreciated him in that moment because he constantly kept me in check with my checkpoints of being present. Keep doing things that you did when you were playing good cricket."

"He understood from a cricketing perspective", Kohli praised Upton

Further speaking about Paddy Upton Kohli, he said, “What I went through, what is the cycle of having a long career, the ups and downs because he understood from a cricketing perspective (Paddy Upton); he’s played cricket himself. And after that, becoming a sports psychologist is a different kind of space." He also said that Upton's work ethic has been amazing.

It's worth noting that Virat Kohli and the Indian team will face the Netherlands in their last league game of the ongoing tournament. The match will be played on Sunday at the iconic M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. The Indian team will look to continue their winning run as they are the only unbeaten team in the ongoing tournament. However, after this game, the team will take on New Zealand in the semifinals at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on November 15.