Virat Kohli to coach: 'Mazaa aaya?'

Mumbai: Not just during bad times, Virat Kohli stays in touch with childhood coach Rajkumar Sharma even when everything is rosy. The Delhi dasher immediately called up his coach back home to get the first reaction after his whirlwind 133 not out to help India chase down Sri Lanka's mammoth total of 320. "How was it Sir? Mazaa aaya? (enjoyed it?)," Kohli's coach told MiD DAY on Tuesday. "Of course," was his reply.

Kohli made mockery of Sri Lanka's imposing score with his imperious display of strokemaking to help India chase the target in just 36.4 overs -- 3.2 overs before the minimum requirement -- and earn the crucial bonus point to stay in the hunt for a place in the CB Series finals.

Sharma revealed Kohli was determined to do well in Hobart on Tuesday. "He was confident as always before the game. He was in good touch and had told me that a big inning is just around the corner. Fortunately, it happened to be today. It was his best knock," said Sharma, who claimed to be in regular touch with his lad during the tour.

Kohli made mockery of SL imposing score with his imperious display of strokemaking on Tuesday.

"We used to analyse his game and where he was going wrong. I suggested him to avoid playing on the on side and across early in his innings. I asked him to play in the cover region as much as possible," he added.

Though Kohli has dramatically improved on his maiden Australian tour, he was fired up when there were calls to axe him from the Test side after twin failures in the first two games. "He wanted to prove everyone wrong... wanted to show that he belonged here.

But I told him to just calm down and not think too much about critics. I asked him to stick to basics and concentrate on the job at hand. I had to make him understand to not get carried away with all this, as they are part of every sportsperson's life.

"I am glad he has grown in stature on this tour. It (the experience) will elevate him to greater success in his career," he concluded.

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