Batting in white shoes is Virat Kohli’s notion

The Indian cricket team’s captain Virat Kohli has a notion. “I love playing in white shoes, batting especially. It’s more of a superstition for me,” Kohli revealed to Pep Guardiola, the Manchester City chief, during an Instagram live session.

“When I bat, it’s my zone and time to be absolutely close to myself and perform,” said the 31-year-old Kohli, who made his international debut in 2008.

Kohli got some information about him exchanging colours of his shoes during his playing days. To which the Manchester City supervisor answered: “When I was playing, all the shoes were black. Now to find a black boot is so difficult. One day when I wore red boots, my mentor and the best manager Johan Cruyff saw it and made me change back into black boots.”

Guardiola further uncovered that football matches being held without fans during the continuous Covid-19 pandemic feel like “friendly games”.

“Without people, it’s not the same. It feels like a friendly game. We must do it, the show must go on! We need the people to come back to the stadiums when everything is safe,” said the 49-year-old.

“It feels very different without them. We miss the fans. Playing closed, behind the scenes is weird,” he added.

Kohli, who has so far played 86 Tests, 248 ODIs and 82 T20Is, is at present leading Royal Challengers Bangalore in the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) being played across three venues without fans in the United Arab Emirates.

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