At a recent event in Mumbai, Indian cricket star Virat Kohli fondly recalled a playful prank played on him by former teammates Irfan Pathan, Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, and Munaf Patel during his first interaction with cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar. The lighthearted anecdote gave fans a glimpse into the camaraderie and fun moments that characterized Kohli’s early days in international cricket.
Kohli shared how, during India’s home ODI series against Sri Lanka in 2008, he was instructed by his senior teammates to bow down to the legendary Tendulkar when they first met. As a young player on the national team, Kohli was eager to show respect to his idol and took the prank seriously. However, when he approached Tendulkar to bow, the cricketing icon stopped him in his tracks, understanding the situation. It was only then that Kohli realized he had been pranked by his mischievous seniors.
Kohli went on to describe how Tendulkar addressed the entire situation, sharing a laugh with the team about the young Kohli’s reaction. Despite the playful nature of the prank, Kohli’s admiration for Tendulkar was evident. The interaction not only provided a humorous moment but also served as a memorable bonding experience for the team.
Virat Kohli made his India debut in 2008 during the ODI series against Sri Lanka, and it wasn’t long before he shared the field with Tendulkar. Their first on-field collaboration came in 2009 during the Compaq Cup final, where Tendulkar’s 138 runs off 133 balls led India to victory. Kohli was also part of Tendulkar’s farewell Test in 2013 against the West Indies in Mumbai.
Since then, Kohli has surpassed many of Tendulkar’s records, including becoming the fastest player to reach several landmarks in international runs, including 25,000, 26,000, and 27,000 runs. Kohli also set new records in the 2023 World Cup, surpassing Tendulkar’s milestones for ODI runs.
