Ahead of the highly anticipated Mumbai Indians (MI) versus Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) match at Wankhede Stadium, Virat Kohli spoke candidly about his friendship and professional relationship with Rohit Sharma. Kohli addressed the often-discussed rivalry between their fan bases, known for their allegiance to jersey numbers 18 and 45, respectively, and the resulting “Ro-Ko” narrative that frequently dominates cricket discussions.
In a statesman-like manner, Kohli shared insights into his “Ko-Shar” bond with Rohit, emphasizing the mutual respect and understanding that has developed over their careers.
“I think it’s a very natural thing to take place with someone you are playing for so long, and you share so much of your insights of the game initially. You are learning from each other. You are kinda growing in your careers at probably the same time,” Kohli told RCB’s social media channel, reflecting on his relationship with Rohit Sharma.
Kohli highlighted that their collaboration and exchange of ideas for Team India played a crucial role in achieving significant success, including reaching a World Cup final, winning a Champions Trophy, and securing a T20 World Cup title. “And you share all kinds of queries, questions. So there’s a lot of back and forth that happens, and also there is how we worked very closely in terms of leadership for the team. So there were always ideas discussed. And more or less, we would end up on the same page in terms of what is the gut feel if that particular situation. Or what that particular game demands. There’s a trust factor that builds in terms of you can rely on each other, do the job for the team,” Kohli explained.
Kohli further added that their longevity in cricket is a testament to this strong equation, even though they might not have foreseen the enduring nature of their competitive yet collaborative bond in their early years.
