Explained: Why Virat Kohli stepped down as India and RCB skipper?
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Virat Kohli has opened up about the mental toll of leading both India and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), revealing that the constant pressure eventually became overwhelming.
Speaking on RCB’s *Bold Diaries* podcast, Kohli said, “I captained India for 7-8 years and RCB for nine. There were expectations on me as a batter every single game. I never felt the attention was off me. If not captaincy, it was my batting. I was exposed to it 24×7. It got very tough and too much in the end.”
Kohli began stepping away from leadership roles after the 2021 T20 World Cup, resigning as India’s T20 captain and later giving up RCB’s captaincy. In early 2022, after a series defeat to South Africa, he also stepped down as India’s Test captain.
He took a month-long break that year and didn’t pick up a bat. “I reached a point where I wasn’t happy in the spotlight,” he said. “If I’ve decided I want to be in this place, I need to be happy. I want to play cricket without being judged every time.”
Reflecting on his early days, Kohli credited MS Dhoni and Gary Kirsten for backing him to bat at No. 3. “I was very realistic about my game. I didn’t feel I was close to others in terms of skill. The only thing I had was determination,” he said.
“They told me, ‘We want you to play your natural game. What you represent—your energy and engagement—is of the biggest value to us.’”
Kohli believes nervous energy is essential: “You think once you’ve scored enough runs, things will ease out. It never happens. That nervousness is the marker. When it disappears, you’re done.”
