'I will be the next Tendulkar': Virat Kohli’s teacher recalls his school days

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Updated: May 6, 2025, 10:33 IST

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Virat Kohli, a cricket legend, dreamt of emulating Sachin Tendulkar, revealed his childhood teacher Vibha Sachdev. Kohli balanced rigorous cricket practice with academics, often preparing for exams late due to training. Despite the challenges, teachers supported his dedication.

'I will be the next Tendulkar': Virat Kohli’s teacher recalls his school days

Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar

Virat Kohli's childhood teacher Vibha Sachdev recently shared insights about the cricket legend's early dedication to the sport and academics. In an interview with Cricadium, she revealed how a young Kohli balanced his cricket practice with studies while maintaining good academic performance at Vishal Bharti Public School, Paschim Vihar.
At 36, Kohli has established himself as one of cricket's greatest players, holding several significant records. He leads the IPL run-scoring charts and ranks third in T20Is, ODIs, and international cricket overall. He also holds the record for most ODI centuries and stands second in international cricket centuries.

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"His eyes were very expressive. Virat was an active participant in all the school activities, he was an enthusiastic and eager participant of all the interhouse activities. 'Ma'am, I will be the next Sachin Tendulkar of Indian Team' was the oft repeated quote, yes at that time sometimes it made us smile at the sheer grit and confidence of the wide eyed boy," Sachdev recalled.

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"Virat always scored well in his exams. He was an above-average performer, and the only time he would lose a few marks was when his practices took his time away. 'I prepared for my exam late after I came back from my practices', Was something that we used to hear very frequently from him. He worked very hard to excel in both sports and academics, and the teachers at Vishal Bharti Public School, Paschim Vihar fully understood his struggle and cooperated with him by giving him added guidance."
Kohli continues to dominate cricket across formats. He recently led India to victory in the 2025 Champions Trophy and is currently performing well in IPL 2025 with Royal Challengers Bangalore.

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His current IPL form shows him leading the Orange Cap race with 505 runs in 11 matches, helping RCB secure eight wins against three defeats to top the points table.
Throughout his career, Kohli has been part of multiple ICC trophy-winning Indian teams, including the 2011 ODI World Cup, 2013 Champions Trophy, 2024 T20 World Cup, and 2025 Champions Trophy.

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