New Delhi [India], January 30: Former cricketer Harbhajan Singh has shared a simple but encouraging message for Virat Kohli, urging the Indian star to “enjoy” his cricket as he plays in the ongoing Ranji Trophy for Delhi against Railways.
This marks Kohli’s return to the domestic circuit for the first time since 2012, as he took to the field at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, where excited fans packed the stands to catch a glimpse of the cricket icon in action. The atmosphere became electric when a fan managed to slip past security and run onto the field to touch Kohli’s feet as he stood at slips.
For Harbhajan, it’s not about whether Kohli scores runs or not. He emphasized the importance of enjoying the game and passing on valuable lessons to the younger generation of cricketers.
“Virat Kohli is a role model, and young players look up to him,” Harbhajan said in a video posted on his YouTube channel. “If he scores runs or not, that’s secondary. What matters is that he enjoys playing the game. That’s how we all start – by enjoying the sport. When you reach his level, pressure and expectations often overshadow the enjoyment, but I hope he can focus on that joy and show the young players how to be Virat Kohli.”
Kohli’s return to the domestic circuit comes amid a phase where his runs have been sparse. In 2024, the 36-year-old batsman struggled, managing only 655 international runs across 23 matches and 32 innings, with an average of just 21.83, including one century and two fifties. His best performance came with an unbeaten century against Australia in Perth.
Harbhajan, however, believes there’s a simple solution to help Kohli rediscover his form: spend time at the crease.
“Virat needs to occupy the crease. Whether he scores runs or not doesn’t matter, as long as he spends three to four hours at the crease, runs will eventually come. Even if he scores zero, he will still be Virat Kohli. His legacy is immense, and the runs will come if he just stays patient and focuses on his game,” Harbhajan added.