NEW DELHI: Virat Kohli has described how “impostor syndrome” continues to linger for him, even after a long stretch as one of cricket’s most decorated performers. Speaking at the RCB Innovation Lab Indian Sports Summit in Bengaluru, the former India captain said that self-doubt never fully disappears, and that it can surface during everyday practice despite nearly two decades at the top level.
Key takeaways
- Kohli said the feeling of not being “good enough” can stay with him throughout his career, even after years of success.
- He admitted that when he steps into the nets, he still imagines younger players judging a less-than-ideal session.
- Rahul Dravid and Vikram Rathour, Kohli revealed, were especially influential in helping him regain mental comfort after he left the captaincy.
- Kohli linked the emotional toll of leading India across formats to a difficult Test period between 2020 and 2022.
- He noted that captains often prioritise the team so heavily that they overlook their own wellbeing.
- Kohli advised emerging players to learn their limits before obsessing over workload management.
Self-doubt remains, even at the highest level
Kohli explained that players live on a fine boundary between being overly cautious and becoming insecure. In his view, the mind can keep replaying the same question—whether you are truly good enough—long after you have proved yourself. “As players, you’re always walking a very thin line between being careful and being insecure. You constantly feel like you’re never good enough—impostor syndrome is always there,” Kohli said.
He added that the mindset can still appear in routine training. Even when he is in the nets, Kohli said he finds himself thinking about who is watching from the other side. “Even today, when I go into the nets, I still think: these youngsters are watching. If I have a bad session, they’ll probably wonder, ‘Is this the guy who’s been playing for 20 years?’ That thought is always there,” he said.
Support from Dravid and Rathour after stepping down
Turning to the next chapter of his career, Kohli said Rahul Dravid and batting coach Vikram Rathour were central in helping him manage his mental state after he stepped down as India’s captain. He described the strain of carrying the responsibilities of leadership across formats as emotionally draining, particularly during his challenging Test spell that stretched from 2020 to 2022.
Kohli said Dravid’s understanding came from having gone through similar pressures at the highest level, while Rathour also offered years of experience and perspective. “Rahul bhai understood that because he had experienced it himself at the highest level. Vikram had been around for years too. They understood what I was feeling and genuinely took care of me mentally. That put me in a space where I could enjoy my cricket again,” Kohli said.
Leadership and mental wellbeing
Kohli also spoke about how leadership can shape mental wellbeing. In his view, captains often become so focused on the team that they neglect to check in on themselves. He said he only later realised that he had not been asked about his own wellbeing for a long time—pointing to a near nine-year stretch without anyone directly asking, “How are you doing?”
Despite the emotional challenges he described, Kohli said he would still take on leadership in the same manner if given the chance again. He also offered advice to younger players, suggesting that early in their careers it is better to understand one’s real limits first rather than concentrating too heavily on workload management strategies.
