Virat Kohli has revealed the emotional and mental strain that led to his decision to step down as India’s Test Captain in 2022, saying during the RCB Innovation Labs Indian Sports Summit on Tuesday that the pressures of leadership gradually consumed him during one of the most successful eras in Indian Test cricket. Kohli ended his seven-year stint as captain with 40 victories in 68 matches, making him India’s most successful Test leader while also overseeing landmark achievements including a historic series win in Australia and five consecutive ICC Test maces.
Kohli explains the pressure behind captaincy exit
Kohli’s resignation came shortly after India’s 2-1 Test series defeat in South Africa in January 2022, ending a leadership tenure that had reshaped India’s approach to overseas Test cricket. The former India Test Captain said the responsibility of remaining the team’s batting leader while managing the demands of captaincy became increasingly difficult over time.
“I ended up being in a place where I became the focal point of our batting unit and the focal point of leadership. I didn’t realise how much of load both those things will present in my daily life, to be honest. But because I was so driven to just make sure that Indian cricket stays on top, I didn’t really pay attention to it. And that’s precisely why by the time I left captaincy, I was completely spent. There was nothing left in the tank. I was completely consumed by it. It was gruesome,” Kohli said.
Kohli first led India in Test cricket during the Adelaide Test against Australia in 2014 before taking over the role full-time later that year. India soon established itself as one of the strongest red-ball sides in the world under his leadership, including a breakthrough Test series triumph in Sri Lanka in 2015.
Leadership demands began to affect Kohli personally
While India’s results improved significantly during Kohli’s tenure, he admitted the expectations attached to leadership became heavier once his batting form started fluctuating. Kohli said maintaining security and confidence within the dressing room remained one of his biggest priorities during his peak years as captain.
“The reason you’re given a leadership role is because people believe you can take on more and still manage it. In many ways, leadership is more about management than even coaching. It’s about understanding the people playing with you and for you, and figuring out how to get the best out of them. To do that, you constantly have to be in a space where you’re not focused on yourself. You don’t even think about whether someone is going to ask you, ‘Are you okay?’ That thought doesn’t even cross your mind,” he noted.
Away from captaincy, Kohli also remained one of India’s defining Test batters across the last decade. In 123 Test appearances, he accumulated 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85, including 30 centuries and 31 half-centuries, while recording a highest score of 254 not out.
Kohli credits support system during difficult phases
Kohli also reflected on the role played by former India Head Coach Ravi Shastri and the wider team management during the peak years of India’s rise in Test cricket. He said the environment created within the squad helped players perform without insecurity inside the dressing room.
“The key there during my prime was to make sure the team was secure. You know, that insecurity doesn’t enter the change room. For that, I have to give massive credit to the management – Ravi Shastri and the team. But the form doesn’t quite stay for long, then, yeah, both those responsibilities start weighing on you. So, it was tough,” he added.
Following his captaincy exit, Kohli said support from India Head Coach Rahul Dravid and Batting Coach Vikram Rathour helped him reconnect with the game during a challenging stage in his career.
“They really took care of me in a way that made me feel like I wanted to play for them. I want to perform. I want to go out there and grind it out. They were so caring and nurturing. They made me realise what I have done so far,” Kohli said.
Kohli reflects on emotional isolation during captaincy
Kohli said leadership often required him to place the team’s needs above his own wellbeing throughout his years as captain, particularly during periods of constant international cricket and expectation.
“But towards the end of my captaincy tenure, I did look back and realise that no one had really asked me that question for almost nine years – ‘How are you doing?’” he said.
Kohli has continued to remain one of the central figures in Indian cricket since stepping away from leadership, while his reflections offered a rare insight into the emotional demands that shaped the final phase of his captaincy journey.
