‘Anushka has been an absolute pillar of strength for me’: Virat Kohli

Indian cricketer Virat Kohli was all praise for wife and actor/producer Anushka Sharma on the eve of his 100th test match. In honour of the cricketer’s milestone achievement, with only 71 cricket players having made it to 100 tests, the Board for Cricket Control in India (BCCI) held a felicitation ceremony which was attended by the couple.

In an interview with BCCI, Virat spoke about how the Sultan actor is his “pillar of strength”. He shared, “Anushka has been a huge, huge influence in my life. Not just you know, eventually the influence in your life that filters down to your game as well because your game is part of life. I have become a completely changed man for all the right reasons. I have evolved in the right way. I am very, very grateful and thankful to God to have a life partner like her and she’s been an absolute pillar of strength for me.” 

He added, “I know people say this thing a lot but I truly understood the meaning of that when I started evolving when Anushka came into my life. And vice versa. We have both helped each other grow. I wouldn’t have been able to go on with so much composure and so much passion and zeal if it wasn’t for her in my life.” 

In January this year, Anushka shared a heartfelt note dedicated to her husband following his resignation from test cricket captaincy. Reflecting on the cricketer’s journey so far, the actor penned, “My love, I am so proud of you for not letting anything come in the way of your good intentions. You led by example and gave winning on [the] field every ounce of your energy to the extent that after some losses I’ve sat next to you with tears in your eyes, while you wondered if there's still something more you could have done. This is who you are and this is what you expected from everyone.”  

Anushka concluded the note by saying, “What you did was to always stand up for doing the right thing, the harder thing, always… Our daughter will see the learning of these seven years in the father that you are to her. You did good.”