Indian cricket superstar Virat Kohli is not someone who is driven by noise or praise from outside. It is actually his mindset that truly pushes him forward, and now his longtime teammate Ajinkya Rahane has explained this side of Kohli in a very clear way.
Ajinkya Rahane Decodes Virat Kohli’s Attitude & Mindset
For years, fans and critics have tried to define what fuels Virat Kohli’s legendary intensity. Recently Ajinkya Rahane, who played with and under Kohli for years, has finally decoded the attitude that separates the former Indian captain from the rest.
Rahane said that Kohli’s biggest strength is not just passion or hunger for runs, but his attitude, and sometimes many misunderstood it as arrogance. He noted Kohli’s attitude to keep learning, to never give up, and to always fight as the core of his greatness.
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Ajinkya Rahane said on Cricbuzz: “However much we talk about Virat Kohli is never enough. But I have seen him very closely, how he goes about his batting. We talk about his passion and his intent each and every time. But I feel for me what stands out is his attitude. Attitude of learning, attitude of never giving up. People outside think Virat is arrogant, but he is not. He gets into the zone.”
Inside Kohli’s Pre-Match Routine: The Power of Silence
Before matches, Kohli slowly switches into his own world, as shared by Rahane. He does not talk much, even with teammates. This is not because of ego or attitude, but this is how he prepares himself, and Rahane noted that this silence helps Kohli get fully ready for the match.
Rahane further shared, “I saw him two days before the game. He’ll hardly talk with people, even with the teammates. That’s what actually gets him into the zone. He’ll always wear his AirPods or try and listen to whatever he wants to and what he likes to get into the zone.
He’s in the gym each and every time. We all know that. But to understand him, because initially it took all the players a little bit of time. Why is he doing that? But then I got to know that he’s actually getting into the zone while not talking to the players or while not talking to anyone. He actually likes to do that.”
Why Virat Kohli Is Never Satisfied
The Mumbaikar also hailed Kohli’s work ethic and said that the former Indian captain always wants and tries to improve and thinks about how he can help the team more despite achieving everything.
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Rahane signed off by saying, “His attitude is amazing. His work ethics are amazing. We all know that. And every time you see him, you see something different. He always wants to change. He always wants to improve and always wants to contribute for the team.”
ODI King in Full Flow: Kohli’s Red-Hot Form
This mindset is clearly visible in his recent form. In his last six matches, Kohli has been in scary form. The former Indian captain scored an unbeaten 74 against Australia in the final ODI after being bowled out for two ducks on the tour last year andethic is carried that dangerous form into the home.
The Indian batting maestro smashed 135, 102, and an unbeaten 65 against South Africa in the recent three-match ODI series at home. Even in domestic cricket, his hunger did not drop. Kohli hit a brilliant 131 against Andhra Pradesh and followed it up with a solid 77 against Gujarat in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26.
He was supposed to play the third game for Delhi, but national duty did not allow this. Now, Kohli, who is now only active in ODIs, having retired from Test and T20I cricket, must be eager to extend his dominance against New Zealand in the ongoing three-match ODI series at home.
