They say whatever you become, and wherever you go, you should never lose sight of your origins. Virat Kohli’s life has often been framed through that lens, and even with his base now firmly in London, the former India captain still finds ways to stay connected to his roots. During a brief window away from the IPL spotlight, Kohli was back in Delhi for Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL 2026 match against the Delhi Capitals, and less than a day after crossing a major IPL milestone—completing 9,000 runs in IPL 2026—he returned to West Delhi for a special school inauguration.
Kohli visited the new branch of the West Delhi Cricket Academy (WDCA) at Delhi Public School, RK Puram. The stop wasn’t a routine appearance on a celebrity circuit; it was timed to coincide with a long-standing relationship with the academy and with the coach who shaped his early cricket days. The event also offered a rare opportunity for young fans to interact with Kohli closely and hear directly from him in a setting far removed from stadium crowds.
Kohli’s visit to WDCA in RK Puram
- Kohli arrived in his hometown, Delhi, for RCB’s IPL 2026 fixture against the Delhi Capitals.
- Within 24 hours of finishing 9,000 runs in IPL 2026, he attended the inauguration of the updated West Delhi Cricket Academy setup at DPS, RK Puram.
- The appearance was linked to the academy’s head coach, Rajkumar Sharma, who works with the WDCA and has spoken about the promise of future sporting talent in the area.
- As a special guest, Kohli addressed students and young supporters during a heartfelt speech that quickly turned playful when the audience reacted before he could even begin.
- When the crowd interrupted him mid-moment, Kohli joked, “Let me speak, please,” before settling into the talk.
In his address, Kohli explained that he isn’t used to speaking in schools and admitted that the environment takes him back to earlier stages of his own journey. He said he understood what students are going through right now, describing how his priorities shifted early in life and how that change came with clarity about what he wanted to pursue.
“Thank you for having me. I’m not used to speaking in schools, so this is going to be a bit awkward for for me because I moved away from the school setup long ago for cricket, and that’s what I’m going to talk about,” Kohli said. “I understand the environment of a school. I’ve been through the same process and stage that all you kids are a part of right now. And I can just share from my own experience how my focus and priority changed very early on in my life.”
Kohli then delivered one of the central messages of the event: respect for the people who guide you through learning. He urged the students to value their teachers and the educators around them, noting that coaches and mentors invest real time and energy in young minds and lives.
“Have respect and regard for that environment first. For your teachers, for the people who are teaching you. They are giving you a part of their lives. It’s very important to give them that respect and the focus and attention that’s required,” Kohli added. “I chose sport very early on in my life, but that came from a very honest place. I was very sure that I wanted to go ahead and pursue cricket, and I had to be honest with myself, my family, and also my teachers to convey to them that this is the path I want to take.”
He also highlighted how early practice helped shape his journey, revealing that he started working on his game at the age of eight and continues to visit the academy whenever his schedule allows. Kohli expressed hope that young cricketers learning at WDCA could take something meaningful from the coaching setup and from the structure built around the sport.
“I started practising when I was eight years old, and I still continue to come to the academy whenever I get time. And it’s a big part of my childhood, and I hope all the kids that come to learn cricket here can value it, can learn something from the academy. And I hope it does wonders for the school, the cricket setup here as well. So, I wish everyone all the very best,” Kohli said.
Rajkumar Sharma, whom Kohli singled out during the visit, is a respected presence in Delhi’s coaching ecosystem. Sharma has been associated with multiple centres including WDCA Paschim Vihar, the DDA Hari Nagar Sports Complex, the DDA Dwarka Sports Complex, and the Mamta Modern School. At RK Puram, Kohli’s reflections tied back to his own early days—when, like many aspiring youngsters across the city, he was still learning how to find his footing in cricket.
With time having transformed the pathway for players through better facilities and stronger infrastructure, Kohli’s message to the next generation was consistent: he wants the academy to prosper and hopes it helps produce future stars. In his closing remarks, he reiterated his belief in the academy’s value and wished everyone connected with the programme the very best.
