'Only MS Dhoni Messaged Me When I Left Test Captaincy, No One Else' - Virat Kohli drops bombshell in post match conference

Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni- Source (Twitter)

There was a lot of buzz around the form of Virat Kohli before the Asia Cup, but a one-month break has done him a world of good for the former captain as he has come roaring back in full form in the ongoing sub-continental tournament. In the three games so far, the talismanic batter has scored 154 runs with his highest score being 60 which came in the Super 4 stage against Pakistan on Sunday. Team India lost the contest in a thriller by five wickets, and they will now face off against Sri Lanka tomorrow.

After the match, Kohli addressed the press conference, where he dropped a bombshell that only MS Dhoni texted him when he stepped down from Test captaincy earlier in January this year. He also shed light on how he looks at things, and how it is best when feedback is given through a one-on-one conversation rather than in front of the public eye.

"When I left Test captaincy, I only received a message from one person and I have played with that person in the past. That person is MS Dhoni, anyone else did not message me. Many people have my number, and there are many people who give me suggestions on TV. There was just MS Dhoni who messaged me, many people have my number, but they did not text me. When you have genuine respect and connection with someone, you are able to see that because there is security from both sides," said Kohli during a post-match press conference.

"I don't want anything from him and he does not want anything from me. I was never insecure from him and he was never of me. I can just say that if I want to say something to someone, I will reach out individually. Even if you want to help. If you want to give a suggestion to me in front of the TV or the whole world, it does not hold any value to me. You can talk 1-1, I see things with utmost honesty. It is not like I do not care, but you see the things how they are. God gives you everything, only God helps you achieve success, and it is all in his hands," he further added.

Kohli had left the T20 captaincy after the T20World Cup and then he was sacked as the ODI skipper in the same year as selectors wanted the same captain for all formats. Kohli then stepped down from Test captaincy after a series drubbing against South Africa.

Anyone can commit the mistake: Virat Kohli on Arshdeep Singh

In the match against Pakistan, Arshdeep Singh had dropped a match-turning catch in the 18th over of the innings and this really proved to be a game changer.

Talking about this moment, Kohli said: "Anyone can commit the mistake, the situation was tight. It was a high-pressure game and mistakes can happen. I still remember I was playing my first Champions Trophy and the match was against Pakistan, I had played a very bad shot against Shahid Afridi. I was watching the ceiling till 5 am, I was not able to sleep and I thought my career is over but these things are natural. Seniors players get around you, there is a good team environment right now, I give the credit to the captain and coach. The players learn from their mistakes. So one must accept his mistake, address it and look forward to being in that pressure situation once again."

Talking about Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav, the former skipper said: "Both Hardik and Suryakumar Yadav have been brilliant. Hardik has realised his potential fully. From the IPL that happened this time around, he has become a different character, very responsible and very aware of his abilities. That is the difference I see, he realises what he can do as an all-rounder and he is working as hard as I have ever seen him. To play like this and get back to full bowling fitness will be a massive factor. And Suryakumar, I do not think there are hardly any players in world cricket who can play like that, once he gets going, he can take the game away,"