Pressure, scrutiny: Felt alone in crowded rooms, says Kohli

New Delhi: Indian ace cricketer Virat Kohli said that continuous pressure and scrutiny adversely affected his mental health so that he had at times felt alone even in rooms full of people, IANS reported.

The super batter has been struggling to find the rhythm on the crease in all formats of cricket in recent years. Consequently, he was subjected to extreme scrutiny, leading him to quit his captaincy in IPL as well as T20I. Later he gave Test and ODI captaincy as well.

Kohli told Indian Express, "For an athlete, the sport can bring the best out of you as a player, but at the same time, the amount of pressure that you are constantly under can affect your mental health negatively. It is definitely a serious issue, and as much as we try to be strong at all times, it can tear you apart."

"My tips to aspiring athletes would be that yes, physical fitness and focus on recovery are the key to being a good athlete, but at the same time, it is crucial to consistently keep in touch with your inner self," the batter said.

"I personally have experienced times when even in a room full of people who support and love me, I felt alone, and I am sure that this is a feeling that a lot of people can relate to. So, take out time for yourself and reconnect with your core self. If you lose that connection, it wouldn't take very long for other things to crumble around you."

"You need to learn how to compartmentalise your time so that there's balance. It takes practice like anything else in life, but it's something worth investing in, that's the only way to feel a sense of sanity and enjoyment while doing your work," he added.

Later he said, "The one thing that truly helps me unwind after a hectic season is spending time with my family. Apart from that, I love to spend time pursuing my hobbies. Travel is something that helps me de-stress a lot, and of course coffee; I believe that I am a coffee connoisseur and absolutely love trying out different flavours and coffee spots around the world."

Regarding his workouts, "My fitness journey is an interesting one. The first few months are the hardest because that is the time you really need to push yourself. The only thing that keeps you going is your desire and how badly you want to make those changes in your lifestyle, which is why I try my best to never miss my workouts," he said.

"My daily routine consists of simple things like staying hydrated, consuming healthy foods that help detoxify my body, and helping my body recover faster," he added.