Jos Buttler shared how Virat Kohli once supported him by openly discussing his own insecurities as a batter.

Virat Kohli: From Run-Machine to Mentor, His Legacy Grows Beyond Records

Anyone who’s ever scrolled through Instagram knows this viral line: “Ek hi toh dil hai, Virat Kohli bhai. Kitni baar jeetoge?” It’s a sentiment echoed time and again when speaking about Virat Kohli—a living legend who has conquered nearly every batting milestone in white-ball cricket. As 2025 unfolds and Kohli nears the twilight of his career, he’s embracing a new role: giving back to the game.

Virat Kohli has become a mentor—not just to Indian youngsters, but to cricketers across the globe. During the IPL, often seen as a proving ground for emerging talent, Kohli has taken it upon himself to guide the next generation. After matches, he’s frequently spotted sharing wisdom with players from rival camps. Ask any youngster who’s shared the field with Kohli, and they’ll speak of his generosity and insight.

This mentorship extends beyond Indian players. Just days after young England cricketer Jacob Bethell shared how Kohli helped him during his time at Royal Challengers Bengaluru, another Englishman—Jos Buttler—publicly expressed his gratitude. Speaking to Stuart Broad on the For the Love of Cricket podcast, Buttler recalled a vulnerable moment after his stellar 2022 IPL season, where he scored 863 runs (third-most in a single IPL, behind Kohli’s 973 and Gill’s 890).

Buttler admitted he struggled the following year, unsure how to live up to such a benchmark. That’s when he turned to Kohli. “I just thought I’d ask him a couple of questions about managing expectations. There’s more pressure on him than anyone else in world cricket,” Buttler said. “He was so generous. He just said, ‘Maybe you had that one season. Accept that. Don’t try and replicate it. Life will be fine.’”

In moments like these, Kohli’s greatness goes beyond numbers—cementing a legacy built not just on runs, but on impact.

‘He too is a human’

That wasn’t all. To further connect with Jos Buttler and put things into perspective, Virat Kohli did something rare—he showed his vulnerable side. Known for his intense presence and alpha energy on the field, Kohli usually appears unshakable. But as Buttler revealed, beneath the exterior lies a deeply human side—one fueled by the same insecurities and doubts that plague even the greatest athletes.

“And then he started talking about some of the insecurities he sometimes has about his game,” Buttler shared. “How he practices… this is arguably the best player of our generation, especially in white-ball cricket and ODIs. I was so thankful for his time, grateful for his insights—and amazed at how well he understood even my own game.”

Kohli, the man who has carried the hopes of a billion fans, confessed something deeply personal to Buttler: “Sometimes I pick up the bat and feel like I don’t know how to play. I feel that quite a lot.” For Buttler, that admission was profoundly reassuring. If someone like Kohli—revered and relentless—can feel that way and still thrive, it’s a reminder that self-doubt doesn’t diminish greatness; it humanizes it.