NEW DELHI: Former Indian captain Virat Kohli spoke about mental health issues, urging aspiring athletes to focus on mental well-being as well as physical fitness.
Indian star batsman Kohli, who is currently going through a rough patch in international cricket as he battled to score a century since November 2019, shared his experience of dealing with mental health issues and recalled occasionally feeling lonely despite being surrounded by your loved ones.
“I have personally experienced times where, even in a room full of supportive and loving people, I felt alone, and I am sure this is a feeling many people can relate to.
So take some time for yourself and reconnect with your core self.
If you lose that connection, it won’t be long before other things come crashing down around you,” Kohli said in an interview with indian express.
Kohli believed that the amount of pressure an athlete had to endure could have serious repercussions on an individual’s mental well-being.
“For an athlete, sport can bring out the best in you as a player, but at the same time, the amount of pressure you are constantly under can negatively affect your mental health. It’s definitely a serious problem and as much as we try to be strong at all times, it can tear you apart.” he said.
Additionally, he advised young athletes to strike a balance between physical and mental fitness.
“My advice to aspiring athletes would be that yes, physical fitness and a focus on recovery are the key to being a good athlete, but at the same time, it is crucial to constantly stay in touch with your inner self,” he said.
“You have to learn to compartmentalize your time so that there is balance. It takes practice like anything else in life, but it is something worth investing in, that is the only way to have a sense of sanity and enjoyment while doing your job,” she added.
Kohli, who completed his 14 years in international cricket today when he made his debut for India on that day in 2008 against Sri Lanka, believed that competition and challenging himself from time to time made him a better sportsman.
“I think competition brings out the best in me in terms of agility and concentration, and in a sport like cricket, you have to work to be precise in what you do and there is no room for error; this challenges me as a person.
And it’s actually something I look forward to!” He concluded.
It is pertinent to mention here that the star Indian batsman has many records under his belt as he has amassed 23726 runs in international cricket including 43 ODIs and 27 Test centuries.
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