Virat Kohli’s coach slams critics after former captain storms back into form in Champions Trophy

Virat Kohli’s childhood coach Rajkumar Sharma wears an ecstatic and relieved look after the former Indian skipper slammed a century against Pakistan in Dubai in the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 on Sunday. Kohli brought up his 51st ODI ton to secure a six-wicket win and Sharma was delighted with the knock of his protege.

“Ab to nahi poochhoge ki Virat form mein nahi hai?” (I hope, you won’t ask me that Virat is not in form),” Sharma told ‘PTI Videos’.

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“He has been a big match player as I have always said and that is what he has proved today. He has always performed well against tough opposition. He has been doing this for the last so many years. He is a guy who has won most matches for the country,” he added.

During the innings, Kohli became the fastest to score 14,000 ODI runs and is placed only behind the duo of Sachin Tendulkar and Kumar Sangakkara in the all-time leaderboard. Sharma is delighted with the achievement.

“Apart from 51st ODI & 82nd overall hundred, he has completed 14,000 ODI runs as well. It is a big achievement and I am proud of him that he has made the whole country proud. We are all happy that he has given happiness to the whole country,” he remarked.

When asked what he would advice him to do from here on to clinch the Champions Trophy, the coach said: “Look, he is such an experienced guy.

“He has played for so long and he knows what is right and what needs to be done and his role in the team and he has been delivering. He knows his role in the team.”