‘Be Honest with Your Dreams’: Virat Kohli Inspires Young Minds at DPS RK Puram

Indian cricket stalwart Virat Kohli delivered an inspirational message at the inauguration ceremony of a cricket academy at DPS (Delhi Public School) RK Puram on Tuesday, urging students to respect their learning environment and pursue their dreams with honesty and commitment.

Speaking to students during the event, Virat said, “Thank you for having me. I'm not used to speaking in schools, so this is going to be a bit awkward for me because I moved away from the school setup long ago for cricket, and that's what I'm going to talk about.”

"What I want to say is, a school is a place where you come to learn, you come to grow, you become better people,” the 37-year-old added.

"Have respect and regard for that environment first. For your teachers, for the people who are teaching you. They are giving you a part of their lives. It's very important to give them that respect and the focus and attention that's required," Kohli said.

What did Virat Kohli say about honesty and choosing cricket early in life?

Sharing insights from his own life decisions, Kohli spoke about his early commitment to cricket and the importance of clarity in one's goals.

"I chose sport very early on in my life, but that came from a very honest place. I was very sure that I wanted to go ahead and pursue cricket, and I had to be honest with myself, my family, and also my teachers to convey to them that this is the path I want to take," the former Indian captain said.

He advised students to be self-aware and fully committed to their ambitions. "Be honest with your dreams, about what you want to do and follow that dream with absolute commitment. Only you will know whether you are being 100% honest or not."

Recalling his long association with the academy, Kohli said it remained a significant part of his life and childhood.

"I started practising when I was eight years old, and I still continue to come to the academy whenever I get time,” the former RCB skipper said.

“And it's a big part of my childhood, and I hope all the kids that come to learn cricket here can value it, can learn something from the academy. And I hope it does wonders for the school, the cricket setup here as well. So, I wish everyone all the very best," the Kohli said.

Meanwhile, Kohli became the first player to complete 9000 runs in the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Monday.

The right-handed batter achieved this milestone during his RCB's away match against DC at his home stadium of Arun Jaitley Stadium, from where his journey as a cricketer started.

(With inputs from ANI)