Rajkumar Sharma is no stranger to Indian cricket. He has trained thousands of budding cricketers at his West Delhi Cricket Academy in the national capital. But his name stands out for nurturing one of India’s greatest match-winners — Virat Kohli. The two share a deeply affectionate, personal bond that has stood the test of time and fame.
Kohli has featured in two matches of the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025 so far, scoring 131 and 77. The last time the former India skipper featured in the domestic one-day tournament was in February 2010. Rajkumar says his presence on the field would have undoubtedly given added motivation to players on both teams.
“He [Virat] was so excited and happy to help them. It’s a great pleasure for the boys to sit next to Virat Kohli or play with him. Everybody is calling me, telling me they enjoyed it and want him to play more matches with him,” the coach said.
“He has been an inspiration for the whole country. Almost every day, we keep talking to each other about what he’s doing. I am really happy for him that he is doing so well,” he added.
The Assam team, to which Rajkumar Sharma has been appointed as mentor.
The Dhronacharya awardee is currently playing the role of mentor to the Assam team. Under his watch, the team earned a stunning four-wicket win over Hyderabad in its latest encounter, chasing down a demanding target of 311 in the last over. The coach says he is enjoying his time with the players.
“They are a really talented lot. They slightly lack mental toughness, for which Devajit Saikia (BCCI secretary) has brought me here. My role is to guide them through crunch situations,” the former Delhi cricketer said.
As Assam looks to build on its performances this season, Rajkumar is hopeful he can help the talented group take the next step forward.
Published – December 30, 2025 05:42 pm IST
