Former Indian skipper Virat Kohli has been struggling with his form for a while now. After taking a break, Kohli will return to the field in the upcoming Asia Cup in the high-octane clash against arch-rival Pakistan. Ahead of the tournament that will work as dress rehearsal for upcoming T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia, Kohli has opened about how the pressure can have a negative effect on one’s mental health and struggles of athletes even when they are surrounded by people.
“For an athlete, the sport can bring the best out of you as a player but at the same time, the amount of pressure that you are constantly under, can affect your mental health negatively. It is definitely a serious issue and as much as we try to be strong at all times, it can tear you apart,” Kohli was quoted as saying by Indian Express.
Kohli also gave a few tips to aspiring athletes and shared a few personal experiences.
“My tips to aspiring athletes would be that yes, physical fitness and focus on recovery is the key to being a good athlete, but at the same time, it is crucial to consistently keep in touch with your inner self. I personally have experienced times when even in a room full of people who support and love me, I felt alone, and I am sure that this is a feeling that a lot of people can relate to. So, take out time for yourself and reconnect with your core self. If you lose that connection, it wouldn’t take very long for other things to crumble around you. You need to learn how to compartmentalise your time so that there’s balance. It takes practice like anything else in life, but it’s something worth investing in, that’s the only way to feel a sense of sanity and enjoyment while doing your work,” the 33-year-old explained.
Kohli has been an inspiration to millions as he made drastic changes to his routine to become the fitness specimen he is today. The veteran cricketer shared how he ensures
recovery between matches.
“It is super important to focus on recovery as a sportsperson because we put our bodies to the test every single day. But even today, the concept of recovery is still extremely new and underrated. The reality is, that it is the most important part of an athlete’s journey because we are always trying to push our limits on the field and as a result of that, we face a lot of injuries,” he said.
