Ajinkya Rahane has offered a rare, close-up look at what truly sets Virat Kohli apart, drawing from years of sharing the dressing room with him and playing under his leadership. According to Rahane, Kohli’s greatness goes far beyond visible passion or the hunger for runs. The real difference, Rahane said, lies in attitude, one that is often misunderstood from the outside. Speaking on Cricbuzz, Rahane explained, “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 for me what stands out is his attitude. Attitude of learning, attitude of never giving up. People outside think Virat is arrogant, but he is not. He gets into the zone.” Rahane revealed that Kohli’s behaviour before matches has frequently been misread. In the days leading up to a game, Kohli tends to withdraw into his own space, limiting conversations even with teammates. Rahane stressed that this silence has nothing to do with ego. It is simply how Kohli prepares.
“I saw him two days before the game. He’ll hardly talk with people, even with the teammates. That’s what actually gets him into the zone,” Rahane said. “He’ll always wear his AirPods or try and listen to whatever he wants to and what he likes to get into the zone.” Rahane admitted that this approach initially puzzled many players. “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 while not talking to the players or while not talking to anyone,” Rahane added. Beyond preparation, Rahane highlighted Kohli’s relentless work ethic and constant desire to improve, even after achieving everything in the game. “His attitude is amazing. His work ethics are amazing,” Rahane said. “Every time you see him, you see something different. He always wants to change. He always wants to improve and always wants to contribute for the team.” These reflections come at a time when Kohli continues to rewrite record books. During the first ODI against New Zealand, a match-winning 93 took Kohli past Kumar Sangakkara to become the second-highest run-scorer across all international formats. Kohli now has 28,068 runs since debuting for India in 2008, with only Sachin Tendulkar ahead on the all-time list.
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