When Virat Kohli lost his father he played cricket to pay the ultimate tribute

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 at 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 get the backing to settle into his job," Dahiya had said.

Dahiya's debut had come against Punjab in 1993-94. He had been a member of the North Zone teams, which won the Duleep and Deodhar Trophy in 1999-2000. He had played in two Tests and nineteen ODIs.

This was not the best time for Virat to take the plunge into first-class cricket, but it was hardly his call. He had made enough waves to earn a place in the state senior team, and was keen to take the first step towards his ultimate goal of turning out in the India colours.

Virat was over the moon when he was asked to report for the nets. It was in preparation for the Ranji Trophy season's opening league match against Tamil Nadu at the Kotla. There was another debutant in that game - fast bowler Ishant - who was destined to play international cricket alongside Virat.

Virat's first-class debut (November 23-26, 2006) went unnoticed. On a placid pitch, M Vijay, also playing his first first-class match, and S Badrinath, his India mates in later years, helped Tamil Nadu make 347, which Delhi overhauled with ease through the centuries from Rajat Bhatia, Dahiya and Dhawan.

Virat was caught behind for ten by Vikram Mani off Yo Mahesh. Interestingly, Mani made 52, in spite of a broken finger. However, Mani, in a bizarre case of Indian cricket's selection inconsistencies, never played again and is now reportedly settled in Auroville Ashram.

Yo Mahesh recalls the dismissal vividly. He will always be known as the bowler to take Virat's wicket for the first time in first-class cricket. "It was a ball that straightened after pitching and took the edge," said Mahesh. "I had bowled to him a lot in junior cricket, in the nets, and always found him to be an aggressive batsman. He had a wide range of strokes even in junior cricket and his self-belief was amazing. He would announce and go out and win the match single-handed. I am not surprised to see Virat grow in stature and become the most feared batsman in world cricket."

The next game, against Uttar Pradesh, saw Virat fall eight short of a half-century. Nevertheless, he made an impression. "I remember his footwork. There was a certainty in his movements at the crease, and I liked his urgency to dominate. He played his shots and played them fearlessly," said Rizwan Shamshad, a reputed batsman on the domestic circuit and a key member of the Uttar Pradesh team. Virat was now feeling comfortable with his cricket, and was happy to be a part of the Delhi dressing room. His dreams were slowly becoming a reality.

It helped when Delhi played its third match too at Kotla. Ishant grabbed the limelight with his maiden five-wicket haul as Delhi rocked Baroda, with Mayank Tehlan shining with the bat.

Tehlan had started his cricket career with a debut score of 176 against Maharashtra in December 2005, slamming 200 in his seventh first-class match.

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 was on the edge now. Three matches had passed without a fifty to his name. His coaches counselled him rigorously. On his own, the boy had made up his mind to cement his place during his next visit to the crease. The opponent was formidable - former Ranji Trophy champion Karnataka.

But Virat was prepared. The first day was spent on the field as Karnataka piled up 299 for three with Robin Uthappa cracking an unbeaten 161. Uthappa failed to add to his score the next day, but Karnataka took a firm grip by posting 446.

They reduced Delhi to 103 for five, with Virat (40) and Bisht (28) occupying the crease, both raw to the challenge. Virat went home tired. His world would change that night as Prem Kohli passed away due to a cerebral attack on December 19, 2006.

His father was no more and Virat was inconsolable. His mentor, guide, and friend, was gone. From now on, he would have to continue on a solitary fight - take on the harsh world where talent was seldom the password for success.

Not that Virat was dependent on extraneous factors, but he was rudderless on that dark night at home. The sombre atmosphere in the house prepared him to be more responsible and disciplined in his quest for cricketing glory. He waited for dawn. It was winter and the wait stretched to a point where he became distressed.

His family was concerned. The teenager needed a distraction to overcome the grief. The family resolved that he had to resume his innings. Virat took the decisive step when he called Raj Kumar. The coach was in Sydney with the WDCA team, and was distraught upon hearing the sad development in Virat's life. "I remembered his father bringing him to me with a request: I am leaving him in your care and you will be a coach and father figure for my son. I was speechless when Virat asked for my advice that early morning," said Raj Kumar.

Given the precarious situation in which Delhi found itself, 103 for five, Virat was presented with a challenge that would test his mettle. "I discussed the team's situation and promised to call him back," recounted Raj Kumar.

It was a tough decision to make, but Raj Kumar was firm. He knew what Virat had to do. "Go and bat. The team needs you," Raj Kumar advised the grieving Virat.

For Virat, it was a way of paying tribute to his father who had always supported his ambitions to be a cricketer. The sportsman within gave Virat the courage to face this irreparable personal tragedy, and he was off to the Ferozeshah Kotla to continue with his knock that had halted with the day's play at 40.

Mithun Manhas was leading Delhi, and had become reconciled to the fact that the first innings lead was hard to achieve. "I normally reach Kotla at 7.45 but I don't know why I was at the stadium gate 15 minutes earlier than my routine. When I reached the dressing room, I saw Virat sitting (on the bench in the corridor) and holding his head. I was worried," remembered Manhas.

"What's wrong, beta?" asked Manhas. "I lost my father," the youngster mumbled.

"I was shocked and honestly did not know how to react," Manhas recalled. "This was a situation I had not experienced. There were just the two of us in that corridor, and I looked around for a while to see if I could get someone to help comfort the boy. There was no one."

Manhas asked Virat to go home, but the latter responded promptly, "I want to play." The Delhi captain asked, "Why? Why do you want to play?" "Sir, the atmosphere at home is heart-breaking. My family and coach also want me to continue with my innings. They have sent me to play," Virat told him in a matter-of-fact manner. "I was stunned by the boy's dedication even in this hour of grief," said Manhas.

The dressing rooms soon filled up and routine preparations for the day's play began. Word had spread about the tragedy that would irrevocably alter Virat's life. The umpires - PS Godbole and MSS Ranawat - took their positions, but not before they had learnt of Virat's personal loss.

"Chetan Chauhan (Delhi coach) had told us about Virat having lost his father. I felt for the boy and admired his commitment. Delhi was in a difficult position and here was a youngster trying his best to save his side from embarrassment. I knew it was love for cricket that had brought him to the ground. He looked so normal. There were no signs of pressure or grief. I was overwhelmed with emotion when he took the strike. As umpires, we were a bit disturbed, but his attitude to his job was praiseworthy," said Godbole.

Virat's overnight partner, Bisht, was inspired by his teammate's dedication. "I was also in my debut season just as Virat, but believe me he looked far more mature. I was speechless when we walked out to bat. Normally, we would have chatted, but this was a very difficult time. He was like a zombie for the initial period. His face was expressionless, and I felt sorry to see a lively character like him look so sad. I did not know how to react and took the best route - bat with him as if nothing had happened."

A partnership developed. Outside the field, Chauhan simply marvelled at Virat. "I knew he was immensely gifted and progressing well from the junior ranks, but this side of his personality made me admire him even more. He showed tremendous grit coming to Kotla hours after losing his father. I offered him the option to return home, but he was adamant. I realised that day that this love for the game was going to take him far."

Tears welled up in Virat's eyes as he went about his job of demolishing the opposition. Bisht was in superb touch at the other end and the runs came fluently. There were admirers of Virat's discipline in the Karnataka camp as well. For coach Venkatesh Prasad, this was exemplary dedication.

"I can only bless him," he said and put his hand on the young fellow's head. The Karnataka players visited the Delhi dressing room at tea break and offered their condolences. They had never known a player overcoming such monumental grief at home, in order to bring joy to his teammates on the cricket field.

Reflecting on that day, Prasad could not stop talking about what he had discovered at the Kotla. "I saw a gem of a sportsman. I had been informed at the ground about his father's demise and felt for Virat. But I was shocked when I saw him padded up and ready to bat. I couldn't believe my eyes.

His approach was fantastic. It was incredible for a young man, who had just lost his father, to come and take charge. The way he applied himself to the job was outstanding," recalled Prasad.

For the former India seamer, it was the second time he was watching a teammate return to the cricket field from his father's funeral. In 1999, a certain Sachin Tendulkar had shown similar commitment at the World Cup in England. "It was a very emotional moment. We were not even aware that Sachin had flown back home for the funeral. The team as a whole was shattered. Our warm-up before the Zimbabwe match was lifeless," said Prasad.

India's performance against Zimbabwe was lifeless too, as it suffered a loss that shocked its fans. Tendulkar joined the team for the next match against Kenya and came up with a century in Bristol, as a fitting tribute to his late father.

At the Kotla, Virat radiated such confidence at the crease that Bisht was inspired to give his best. "We did not speak much. In fact, he was lost, and I felt very sad for him. I remember after he played a shot, and I walked up to check if he was doing okay. I mumbled something and just admired him from my end, watching him grow as a cricketer. I had heard a lot about him and was now seeing him up close. His eagerness to make runs was evident from his big scores in junior cricket and here he was demonstrating his art. He was quiet for most of the innings, sticking to normal cricket. There was not one moment when he was hustled into playing a ball," said Bisht, who made 156, but failed to clinch the first-innings lead for Delhi.

The century was waiting to happen for Virat when he was adjudged caught behind, off B Akhil, ten runs short of the target. He stood at the crease for a moment, and then began his long walk to the pavilion. He was hurt. Karnataka players should have called him back for he had not touched the ball.

Virat had been crestfallen due to the two incidents that had caused him such grief - his father's death and a poor decision. He had already wept at home and now he broke down in the dressing room.

He left the Kotla for the crematorium, even as his team battled Karnataka. For Bisht, it was a day of mixed feelings due to the joy of his maiden century, and the pain of Virat's personal loss. In the evening, as he reflected on the day, his phone rang.

"Congrats for the century," said the voice on the other end. Bisht was overwhelmed.

It was Virat. He had not forgotten to keep track of the match even in his hour of grief. Three days later, Virat travelled with the team to Rajkot to play Saurashtra. He made four and 35 in Delhi's innings defeat. The Ranji Trophy season was over for Virat and Delhi, but he had taken firm steps towards an eventful journey. The boy had grown into a man on that fateful day at the Kotla.

(Reprinted with publisher's permission.)

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