Mumbai: In an explosive claim which could have ramifications in the Indian dressing room, veteran leg-spinner Amit Mishra has said that Virat Kohli changed as a person after becoming captain but Rohit Sharma has remained the same.
Mishra, who played 22 Tests, 36 ODIs and 8 T20Is for India, said that he noticed a difference in Kohli’s behavioural pattern after he became captain.
Having played 9 Tests under Kohli’s captaincy between 2015 and 2017, as well as with Rohit, Mishra remarked one changed with circumstances while the other remained the same since the first day.
“I won’t lie. As a cricketer, I respect him (Kohli) a lot, but I don’t share the same equation with him as I used to. Why does Virat have less friends? His and Rohit’s natures are different. I’ll tell you the best thing about Rohit. When I met him the first day and when I meet him today, he is the same person. So will you relate to him more or with someone who changes according to situation?” Mishra told YouTuber Shubhankar Mishra on his show.
At one time, Mishra used to be good friends ‘Cheeku’, the young Kohli, but his equation with the latter took a hit with time and they almost stopped talking.
“I have seen Virat change a lot. We almost stopped talking. When you get fame and power, they think people are reaching out to them for a purpose. I was never one of those. I have known Cheeku since the time he was 14, when he used to eat samosas, when he needed pizza every night. But there is a huge difference in the Cheeku I knew and Virat Kohli the captain. Whenever he meets me, he is very respectful, but it’s obviously not the same anymore,” Mishra elaborated.
As for his equation with Rohit, Mishra said that he and the current India captain share a very jovial and friendly bond even today.
“I haven’t been part of the Indian team in years. Still when I meet Rohit during the IPL or any other event, he is always joking with me. I don’t need to think what he will think. We joke with each other. He is at the top but we still have maintained that rapport. He is the captain, won the World Cup and five IPL titles,” Mishra remarked.
