Long before Virat Kohli became a global cricket icon, he was a determined young student at Vishal Bharti Public School in Paschim Vihar, dreaming big and making a bold promise of becoming the next Sachin Tendulkar.
In an interview, Kohli’s school teacher, Vibha Sachdev, offered a nostalgic glimpse into the early years of the former India captain, revealing his infectious enthusiasm, relentless work ethic, and unwavering confidence that set him apart even as a young student.
Reflecting on Virat Kohli’s school days, Sachdev recalled his vibrant personality and active involvement in school life.
"His eyes were very expressive. Virat was an active participant in all the school activities, he was an enthusiastic and eager participant of all the interhouse activities. 'Ma'am, I will be the next Sachin Tendulkar of the Indian Team' was the oft-repeated quote, yes at that time sometimes it made us smile at the sheer grit and confidence of the wide-eyed boy," Vibha said as quoted to Cricadium.
Balancing academics and sports was no easy feat, but Kohli worked tirelessly to excel in both, as revealed by his teacher.
"Virat always scored well in his exams. He was an above-average performer, and the only time he would lose a few marks was when his practices took his time away. 'I prepared for my exam late after I came back from my practices', Was something that we used to hear very frequently from him. He worked very hard to excel in both sports and academics, and the teachers at Vishal Bharti Public School, Paschim Vihar fully understood his struggle and cooperated with him by giving him added guidance," she added.
Virat Kohli's Journey from School Boy to Cricket Legend
Kohli’s journey from a determined schoolboy to one of India’s greatest cricketers is nothing short of inspirational.Â
His talent quickly shone through, and by his teenage years, he was leading the Indian Under-19 team to victory in the 2008 World Cup. He made his international debut in 2008, and there was no looking back.
His promise to emulate Tendulkar, the cricketing icon who inspired a generation, was no mere childish boast; it was something he achieved by his hard work.
Having played 450 international matches so far for India, Kohli has scored 27,599 runs with 82 hundreds, the second-most in the history of cricket. Interestingly, Kohli broke Tendulkar’s tally of 49 ODI centuries in the 2023 World Cup and bowed down to his idol, who was present at the stadium.
The 36-year-old is currently playing in the Indian Premier League 2025 (IPL 2025) for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). He is having a splendid season with the bat, having smashed 505 runs in 11 innings.
