Virat Kohli: Don't Cheer When My Teammates Get Out

One of cricket's biggest stars just reminded millions of fans what true sportsmanship looks like.

Virat Kohli, who thrilled the crowd with 93 runs in India's victory over New Zealand on Sunday, opened up about something that's been bothering him. Fans often cheer when a batter gets out because it means Kohli will walk to the crease next. But the beloved player wants them to stop.

"I honestly don't feel good about it," Kohli said after the match. "I've seen it with MS Dhoni too. I understand the crowd gets excited. I just try to keep the focus on the game."

His words hit even harder because he's experienced this from both sides. When he played alongside cricket legend MS Dhoni, Kohli watched fans celebrate dismissals just to see Dhoni bat. Now that he's the superstar, the cycle continues.

On Sunday in Vadodara, Kohli seemed to deliberately wait for captain Rohit Sharma to return to the pavilion before making his own entrance. The gesture showed his respect for his teammate and his discomfort with the crowd's reaction.

Despite falling just seven runs short of his 54th ODI century, Kohli stayed focused on what mattered most. "If I'm being brutally honest, I'm not thinking about the milestones," he explained. "The basic idea is I bat at number three, I back myself to counterattack."

Why This Inspires

In a sport where individual glory often takes center stage, Kohli's words remind us that team success matters more than personal fame. His humility shines even brighter when you consider he just became the fastest player to reach 28,000 international runs, achieving the milestone in 624 innings compared to Sachin Tendulkar's 644.

The 37-year-old could easily bask in the adoration. Instead, he's asking fans to honor every player on the field. He's teaching younger players and millions of fans that respecting your teammates isn't just good sportsmanship, it's essential to the game.

His partnership with Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer helped India secure a four-wicket victory. The win showed exactly what Kohli was talking about: cricket is a team sport, and every player deserves support.

When one of the world's most celebrated athletes uses his platform to lift up others, everyone wins.