Piyush Chawla opens up on his bond with Virat Kohli
What's the story
Piyush Chawla, a seasoned Indian leg-spinner, has recently shared insights into his enduring friendship with cricket icon Virat Kohli.
Chawla, in a podcast with 2 Sloggers, Chawla revealed that the bond between the two has been the same since their early years in the Under-19 arena.
He emphasized that despite the passage of time and Kohli's rise to fame, their camaraderie remains unchanged.
Fond memories
Chawla recalls light-hearted interaction with Kohli
Chawla fondly remembered a light-hearted interaction with Kohli during the 2023 Asia Cup, which underscored their consistent camaraderie.
"During Asia Cup, he was fielding at the boundary ropes, while I was there for a commentary stint. So, he came to me and said 'PC, Let's order something to eat.' So, he has the same conversations with us that we used to have 10-15 years ago," Chawla said.
Mishra
Contrasting view on Kohli's fame
In contrast to Chawla's experiences, fellow leg-spinner Amit Mishra previously expressed a different perspective on Kohli's rise to fame.
He feels that it has altered his interactions and created a distance between them.
"I have seen that Virat has changed a lot. We had almost stopped talking," Mishra stated, highlighting how their relationship has evolved over time due to changes in Kohli's status and influence.
Return
Return to cricket post T20 World Cup
Kohli starred in India's 2024 ICC T20 World Cup title-winning campaign in the Caribbea and USA.
He scored a match-winning half-century in the final, where India defeated South Africa to lift the trophy.
After a break, Kohli returned to play for India in the ODI series against Sri Lanka.
Despite India's 2-0 loss, fans are eagerly awaiting his return in the upcoming Bangladesh series scheduled for September.
Information
Kohli vs Chawla in T20 cricket
It is worth noting that Chawla has dismissed Kohli thrice in 15 innings in T20 cricket. The latter has scored 140 runs off 105 balls at an average of 46.66 in this battle. Notably, Kohli has struggled against leg-spinners of late.