Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli, both hailing from Delhi-Punjabi roots, rose through the ranks of Indian cricket together, forging a history that extends well beyond their on-field partnerships. Their synergy was particularly evident in One Day Internationals, where they contributed significantly to India’s formidable top-order batting lineup.
Despite their seemingly close bond, the 39-year-old Dhawan recently opened up about instances of friction during their playing days. “Virat and I had a fight once. It was during a football warm-up session where we shoulder-tackled each other, and for a moment, tempers flared,” Dhawan recounted on the Raj Shamani’s podcast. “Eventually, we stopped playing football during warm-ups because these clashes were becoming frequent. It’s natural when you have so many aggressive athletes, each a powerhouse in their own right.”
Dhawan also recalled another heated moment involving a run-out with Kohli, which occurred at a particularly sensitive time for him.
“I was in South Africa, and Virat ran me out. I was incredibly angry at that moment,” he explained. “My IPL auction hadn’t gone well either, and I was still processing that disappointment. So, with that already on my mind, the run-out happened.” He continued, “I vented a lot of frustration… he (Kohli) was in the middle, and I was expressing my anger in the dressing room, not directly at him, but in the way batsmen often do. However, we had an unspoken understanding, knowing it wasn’t intentional. These things happen in cricket.”
Today, Dhawan has retired from international cricket and embarked on an entrepreneurial journey, while the 36-year-old Kohli remains a key player in ODIs and the IPL.
Reflecting on his initial impressions of Kohli, Dhawan described him as a young, intensely focused player whose life underwent a profound transformation after his father’s demise.
“When Virat was around 16-17, he was a bit reserved and soft-spoken. As the senior player, I spent a lot of time with him. Back then, his primary focus was food, but once he stepped onto the field, his only goal was to score runs. He possessed a clear understanding of his game and an insatiable hunger for success,” Dhawan added. “Tragically, when his father passed away, his existing passion intensified, and his seriousness reached new heights. I vividly remember the match where he played on the very day of his father’s death and scored 95 runs. From that moment, he never looked back.”