Ajinkya Rahane: People think Virat Kohli is arrogant, but it’s just focus
Veteran Indian cricketer Ajinkya Rahane has opened up about Virat Kohli’s intense mindset and preparation rituals, saying that while outsiders often perceive him as “arrogant”, his behaviour actually stems from deep focus, discipline, and an unrelenting will to succeed. Rahane, who has shared the dressing room with Kohli for over a decade, offered a candid insight into the star batter’s pre-match routine, explaining how his laser-sharp approach is sometimes mistaken for arrogance.
“People think Virat is arrogant, but he is not”
Speaking on Cricbuzz, Rahane said Kohli’s passion and competitive attitude are misunderstood by those who see him only from a distance.
“However much we talk about Virat Kohli is never enough. But I have seen him very closely, how he goes about his batting. We talk about his passion and intent each and every time. But I feel what stands out is his attitude — the attitude of learning, the attitude of never giving up.”
> “People outside think Virat is arrogant, but he is not. He just gets into the zone.”
Rahane, who has played alongside Kohli through some of Indian cricket’s biggest moments — including the 2018 tour of Australia and several record-breaking home Test series — explained that what might appear as aloofness is simply Kohli shutting out distractions to prepare mentally for a contest.
“He’ll hardly talk to people before a match”
Revealing more about Kohli’s pre-game habits, Rahane said the batting maestro often isolates himself before matches to build focus.
“I saw him two days before the game. He’ll hardly talk to people, even to his teammates. That’s what actually gets him into the zone. He’ll always wear his AirPods or try and listen to whatever he wants to and what he likes to get into the zone.”
Rahane said that initially, Kohli’s teammates took some time to understand this routine but eventually realised it was part of his mental preparation process.
“Initially, it took all the players a little bit of time — like, why is he doing that? But then I got to know that he’s actually getting into the zone by not talking to anyone.”
“His drive to learn and improve never stops”
Rahane also highlighted the relentless mindset Kohli brings to every practice session. According to him, Kohli’s dedication to constant improvement, his focus on fitness, and his technical precision make him one of the best cricketers of all time.
Whether leading the side or playing purely as a batsman, Kohli’s trademark energy and intensity have remained consistent throughout his career. Rahane credited this attitude as the key reason for his extraordinary success.
“What truly separates Virat is his hunger — even after achieving so much, he still trains, still learns, still keeps raising his bar. The rest of the world mistakes that obsession for arrogance, but it’s actually passion in its purest form,” Rahane explained.