Ace of Grace: How Tennis Balls and Few Words of Wisdom Forged Kohli's Legend

Virat Kohli’s journey to cricketing greatness was shaped by a blend of timely motivation and a simple tennis ball technique. Early in his career, former South African wicketkeeper Mark Boucher recognized Kohli’s potential and offered crucial advice: master the short ball or risk never making it at the highest level. Boucher did not just talk-he escorted Kohli to the nets and served up tennis balls with speed, encouraging the young batsman to learn and eliminate his Achilles' heel.

 

These intense sessions, combined with Boucher's belief- "If I don't see you playing for India in four years, you'd do yourself a disservice"-motivated Kohli's never-give-up spirit for perfection. The reward: Kohli became the most successful batsman in the IPL, with 8,509 runs, eight centuries, and 62 half-centuries, his name etched forever in cricket's annals.

 

Source: OdishaTV