TOP STORIES

"People outside think Virat is arrogant": Ajinkya Rahane offers thoughtful perspective

Tuesday, 13-Jan-2026 ● 1 day ago
News

Veteran Indian cricketer Ajinkya Rahane has provided a clear perspective on Virat Kohli’s much-debated on-field persona, saying that what is often perceived as arrogance is, in reality, a deep-rooted passion for the game and an unrelenting desire to improve. Rahane, who alongside Kohli was part of India’s leadership core across formats, believes that Kohli’s attitude has frequently been misunderstood.

"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 what stands out is his attitude - the attitude of learning, the attitude of never giving up. People outside think Virat is arrogant, but he is not. He gets into the zone," Rahane said on Cricbuzz.

Having spent several years sharing the Indian dressing room with Kohli, Rahane’s observations come from long-standing professional camaraderie.

"I saw him two days before the game. He'll hardly talk to people, even to his 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."

"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 by not talking to the players or anyone," he added.


Tags

More News

News

Daryl Mitchell’s sublime century helps New Zealand level series against India

11 hrs ago

New Zealand came out all guns blazing, producing a commanding all-round performance to defeat India by seven wickets in the second ODI on Wednesday in Rajkot to level the three-match series 1–1. Riding on the sublime century from Daryl Mitchell and an impressive 87 from Will Young, New Zealand orchestrated a decisive chase to avoid series defea...


News

"They discuss with Gautam": Indian batting coach Kotak dismisses rift rumours, backs Kohli–Rohit’s role in team planning

20 hrs ago

India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak brushed aside speculation surrounding a supposed communication gap between senior batters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma and head coach Gautam Gambhir. Kotak made it clear that the two stalwarts remain actively engaged in discussions with the team management. 

"Both of them are so senior and so expe...


News

Stuart Broad defends England amid criticism over conduct

1 day ago

Former England fast bowler Stuart Broad has pushed back against suggestions that the current Test side is battling a drinking culture problem. Questions around player conduct have also come to the fore, with accusations that members of the squad drank and partied excessively during their time abroad, including throughout the Ashes series in Australia. In response to the growing...


News

Faf du Plessis ruled out of SA20 2026

1 day ago

Joburg Super Kings have suffered a massive setback in the ongoing SA20 2026 season, with skipper Faf du Plessis being ruled out of the remainder of the tournament after suffering a right thumb ligament tear. Faf has been a prolific performer in the tournament, scoring 135 runs in five innings at an average of 27.00 and an impressive strike rate of 151.68. The l...


News

Gavaskar slams England’s Ashes capitulation, dubs England 'paper tigers'

1 day ago

Former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has delivered a blistering assessment of England’s disastrous 2025–26 Ashes campaign, labelling them “paper tigers” and claiming their much-publicised Bazball philosophy has been exposed at the highest level.

England’s tour of Australia ended on a disappointing note, with Australia sealing a commanding 4–1 series victory. However, En...