On the eve of the Test match, Virat Kohli opened up about his heartfelt conversation with India coach Rahul Dravid, symbolizing a complete journey of life. Two days ago, Kohli shared a remarkable Instagram post featuring him and Dravid, setting the stage for the India vs West Indies match. It was more than just a photo of a player and coach; it held a significant history. Back in 2011, during India's last match at Dominica's Windsor Park, Dravid was in the final phase of his career, while Kohli represented the future. It was in that very game that Kohli made his Test debut for India, after already making waves in ODIs. Now, 12 years later, Kohli stands as a legend, with Dravid as his coach. As the only two members from the 2011 tour, Kohli's post with Dravid sparked nostalgic memories for Indian cricket fans.
With Kohli now a veteran of 100 Tests, many consider this phase of his career to be intriguing. Prior to the series opener, he revealed the emotions behind the viral Instagram post and the overwhelming feelings upon stepping foot onto the ground that holds immense significance.
"When we entered the dressing room and began practicing, memories of my first series as a Test player flooded back. This is the country where it all began – the Caribbean. It's incredible to return here after 12 years, having played over 100 Test matches. I could never have imagined something like this," Kohli expressed in a video shared by the BCCI.
Kohli emphasized that "life has come full circle." In the past 12 years, he has transformed from a promising young player to arguably the world's best batsman, while Dravid explored commentary, broadcasting and held roles in the NCA before finding his calling as a coach. After successful stints with the India A and Under-19 teams, Dravid took over as coach in November 2021, following Ravi Shastri. Despite some underwhelming moments during his tenure, Dravid is undeniably the perfect fit for the job.
Speaking about his heart-to-heart conversation with Dravid, Kohli mentioned, "His comment about being a youngster in his coaching career is quite humble because he has been coaching for a long time now. I was once his teammate, looking up to him as a senior and established Test player. It's truly amazing. I told Rahul bhai yesterday that I'm sure neither of us could have imagined that 12 years later we would return to the same venue, with him as the head coach and me having played 100 games. No one could have predicted that. It feels like life has come full circle. Our journeys have been incredible."