Virat Kohli reveals the lessons he learned from Kobe Bryant’s death

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Image Courtesy: NBC/BCCI

6th January 2020 marked a dark day for the world of sports as NBA superstar and Basketball icon Kobe Bryant passed away after a tragic helicopter accident, along with his daughter Gianna. While the world mourns the unfortunate demise of the legend, India’s cricketing icon Virat Kohli pours his heart out on the mishap, and talks about the lessons he gained from it.

Image Courtesy: NBC/BCCI

While Team India is preparing for the 3 match ODI series against New Zealand, captain Virat Kohli spoke in a recent interview today in Hamilton, lamenting the sad incident, and also unveiled his young memories of being a regular follower of basketball, and idolising Kobe in different aspects.

“Firstly, it was a shock to everyone. I grew up watching those NBA games in the morning and watching what he did on court. But when someone that you have looked up to in some ways, passes away like that, it does put things in perspective,” Kohli told interviewers.

After the unfortunate event, Kohli paid tribute to the Lakers hall of fame on his official Instagram, where he also stated about being a Kobe fan and a regular NBA watcher in his childhood.

Since taking the helm of Team India back in 2013, Kohli has been under stress from tough opposition or even a hectic schedule, like he recently complained about the short gap between the Australia ODI series and the recently concluded T20 series against New Zealand.

However, the 31 year old continues that Kobe’s incident has made him realise to have a good time instead of getting caught up in the routine stress: “At the end of the day, life can be so fickle. It’s so unpredictable. I think a lot of the times we get too caught up in the pressures of what we have to do tomorrow…we really forget living life and enjoying life and just appreciating and being grateful for the life we have.”

Kobe, who is a five time NBA championship winner and two time Olympic gold medalist, was on board in a helicopter along with his daughter Gigi and 7 other occupants, which crashed crashed in Orange Country, California. The Men in Blue skipper also said that the incident has changed the way he looked at life, now relishing and welcoming each moment of it.

“You start looking at things from a different point of view suddenly and you want to enjoy every moment you’re going through. You realise that what you’re doing at the end of the day is not the most important thing. The most important thing is life itself” he added.

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