Veteran India spinner Amit Mishra has shared his views on Virat Kohli’s transformation after taking up the captaincy. Mishra, who played under Kohli’s leadership between 2015 and 2017, has seen a change in Kohli’s demeanour and he compared with that of Rohit Sharma. While saying that Kohli’s personality evolved with his role, Mishra added that Rohit is the same throughout his career.

However, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are considered as Indian cricket stalwarts who have dominated the batting for over a decade. Meanwhile, they both announced their retirements from the T20 format following India’s triumph in the T20 World Cup 2024. Despite their on-field similarities, Mishra shared a stark difference in their off-field personalities, claiming to have a closer relationship with Rohit Sharma.

Amit Mishra shares his equations with Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma

“Not everyone to be very honest. I won’t lie. As a cricketer, I respect him a lot, but I don’t share the same equation with him as I used to. Why does Virat have less friends? His and Rohit’s natures are different. I’ll tell you the best thing about Rohit. When I met him the first day and when I meet him today, he is the same person. So will you relate to him more or with someone who changes according to situation?,” Amit Mishra said in a show by YouTuber Shubhankar Mishra.

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“I haven’t been part of the Indian team in years. Still when I meet Rohit during the IPL or any other event, he is always joking with me. I don’t need to think what he will think. We joke with each other. He is at the top but we still have maintained that rapport. He is the captain, won the World Cup and five IPL titles,” he further added.

Former Indian leg-spinner Amit Mishra has shared the change in his relationship with Virat Kohli. Despite playing nine Test matches under Kohli’s captaincy, Mishra stated that their bond weakened over time, hinting at a near-complete breakdown in communication.

Yuvraj Singh’s experience with Virat Kohli is no different

Mishra’s experience was similar to Yuvraj Singh’s experience with Kohli’s transformation from a close friend to a distant player as well. Mishra added this change to a marked shift in Kohli’s demeanour following the captaincy and the successes as well.

“I have seen Virat change a lot. We had almost stopped talking. When you get fame and power, they think people are reaching out to them for a purpose. I was never one of those. I have known Cheeku since the time he was 14, when he used to eat Samosas, when he needed Pizza every night. But there is a huge difference in the Cheeku I knew and Virat Kohli the captain. Whenever he meets me, he is very respectful, but it’s obviously not the same anymore,” Mishra concluded.