Published: Aug 24, 2016, 12:57 PM (IST)
Edited: Aug 24, 2016, 12:58 PM (IST)
India’s Test skipper Virat Kohli can not only tear apart the bowling line-ups with his belligerent batting, but can also surprise people around him with his prophecy. Yes, the 27-year old cricketer’s words said long back recently came true when his childhood coach Raj Kumar Sharma got nominated for the prestigious ‘Dronacharya Award’. ALSO READ: ‘Delighted’ Virat Kohli congratulates coach Raj Kumar Sharma on receiving Dronacharya Award.
“When Virat got the Arjuna Award in 2013, I was there at the Rashtrapati Bhavan and he told me then next time I would be receiving Dronacharya and he would be applauding from the audience,” Raj Kumar, who has coached Kohli since he was 10 years old, was recently quoted as saying by PTI.
For Raj Kumar, a coach is no different from a parent and that’s precisely why he has been ‘protective’ about Kohli and has kept a close watch on the progress of his ‘son’ during his formative years. And come August 29, the same man will be conferred with the prestigious award, not just for producing Kohli, but for shaping a lot of careers. “It’s a huge honour which increases your responsibility to produce not one but many more Virats,” he says. ALSO READ: ‘Bored’ Virat Kohli finally spends some good time after rain washes out Day 4 of the Fourth Test.
Raj Kumar still remembers the day when a young Kohli first came to him, as he says, “I still remember the day when a 10-year-old Virat came to my coaching camp. Today as an Indian captain when he comes for a net session, I don’t find any difference. He is still the same old little Virat for me. Nothing has changed for him,” the 51-year-old former First-Class cricketer said.
As he prepares for the D-Day, there’s only one regret that he has. “Wish Virat did not have international commitments (he will be on his flight back from the US) and he would be have been there at Rashtrapati Bhavan on August 29,” said Sharma before signing off.
