Ex-India captain Virat Kohli, while talking about mental health in a recent interview, said, “I personally have experienced times when even in a room full of people who support and love me, I felt alone.” Read ahead to know Kohli’s take on mental health and how the pressure of his position affected him.
Virat Kohli, the former captain of the Indian team, has discussed the significance of paying attention to mental health, particularly for young sportsmen who are subjected to continuous strain and criticism. When it comes to mental health, Kohli said that he has personally encountered challenging circumstances and added that, on occasion, he has felt alone despite being in a room full of people.
When one loses touch with himself, in Kohli’s opinion, it is crucial to spend some time reconnecting with oneself. He stated that in order to maintain equilibrium, an athlete must learn to compartmentalize time. The only way, in his opinion, to maintain a “feeling of sanity” and find happiness in one’s profession is via practice and investment in it.
As one of the most popular athletes in the world, Kohli has come under constant scrutiny
One of the most popular athletes in the world, Virat Kohli, has come under scrutiny, particularly in the recent past when he experienced a slump in international cricket. When Kohli stepped down as T20I and IPL captain last year, he lost the spotlight. Following his removal as ODI captain earlier this year, the illustrious batsman unexpectedly resigned as Test captain after losing a series in South Africa.
“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. It is definitely a serious issue and as much as we try to be strong at all times, it can tear your apart,” Kohli said to The Indian Express.
“My tips to aspiring athletes would be that yes, physical fitness and focus on recovery are 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 time out 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 compartmentalize your time so that there’s a 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,” he continued.
Traveling allows him to “de-stress”
Spending time with family, he added, was one thing that helped him decompress after a busy season. Traveling, he continued, had allowed him to “de-stress.”
“The one thing that truly helps me unwind after a hectic season is spending time with my family. Apart from that, I love spending time pursuing my hobbies. Travel is something that helps me de-stress a lot, and of course, coffee; I believe that I am a coffee connoisseur and absolutely love trying out different flavors and coffee spots around the world. (Alprazolam) ”
The former captain has taken pauses between series this calendar year and has only participated in 4 of India’s 21 T20 matches so far.
For the ODIs and T20Is in the West Indies, Kohli was given a rest day, and he also asked for a rest day for the three-match ODI series against Zimbabwe that begins on August 18. The Asia Cup, which begins on August 27 in the UAE, will mark his return to competitive cricket.
