My father refused to pay a bribe for my selection: Kohli

New Delhi, Dt

"When I was playing junior cricket, my father was asked for a bribe to secure my selection in the team," said Virat Kohli, captain of the Indian cricket team. Although they explicitly refused to pay the bribe, they said, "If my son is selected only on merit, I am not willing to give you anything for it."

Kohli made the revelation during a conversation with Indian football team captain Sunil Chhetri on Instagram. "My father was a common man who struggled all his life to become a successful lawyer," Kohli added. He did not bribe me for my selection at that time and because of this I was not selected. This made me cry a lot. I was devastated from the inside. However, the incident taught me that in order to be successful, I must be special. Because of this I started working hard and achieved this goal. My father showed me the right way not only by teaching but also by his behavior.

Team India captain Kohli's father Prem Putra could not see the success at the international level. Kohli was playing for Delhi in a Ranji Trophy match in late 2006 when he died. Kohli continued to bat, prioritizing the team's needs in the most emotional moments. "His demise made me realize that now I have to show something special," Kohli said, recalling the time. I thought, how much better it would be if I could give my father a comfortable life after retirement. I still get emotional today remembering them.