DRIVEN The VIRAT KOHLI Story

 Boy to Man 

There was turmoil in Delhi Cricket. Some seniors were in the firing line of the state selectors as quite a few youngsters were waiting to break into the squad. There was discontent among the seniors. They felt their services to the team were being undermined, but the selectors insisted they had a job hand - to give Delhi cricket a push in the right direction. The last Ranji Trophy title had come home in 1992, when Delhi dashed Tamil Nadu's dreams in the final at the Ferozeshah Kotla. The pressure was on the seniors and the message was loud and clear - perform or make way for the youngsters.

Vijay Dahiya, a Test wicketkeeper and a stalwart in the dressing room, was given a tough choice-announce retirement or face the axe. He chose to leave on his own terms, paving the way for Punit Bisht to assume the Wicketkeeper's role. 'It is always better to go out on a high. I don't wish to block a youngster's way and it is the best time to leave. I don't want to be unfair to Punit. He must However, he failed to live up to his promise, while Virat, whose contribution was a modest 21 in that match, learnt a few important lessons that resulted in Delhi soon getting a young batting powerhouse.

Virat went home tired. His world would change that night as Prem Kohli passed away due to a cerebral attack on 19 December 2006.

His Father was no more and Virat was inconsolable.