Playing Test cricket has made me better person: Kohli

India captain Virat Kohli on Thursday said he became a better person by playing Test cricket, calling format a representation of life where one doesn't have option of quitting when going gets tough.

Speaking to former England batsman and IPL teammate Kevin Pietersen during an instagram live, Kohli touched upon his passion for Test cricket, worst phase of his career, how he turned into a vegan and how much he is filled with gratitude for being able to live a comfortable life during a global crisis like COVID-19. Asked which is his favourite format, Indian skipper emphatically replied: "Test cricket, Test cricket, Test cricket, Test cricket and Test cricket. I have said it five times."

"Because it is representation of life. Wher you get runs or t, you have to clap when ors are batting. You have to go back to your room, get up and come next day."You have to follow routine wher you like it or t. It's like life where you don't have option of t competing. Test cricket has made me a better person," said world's premier batsman, who has 27 hundreds and 7240 runs in 86 games.

Pietersen, a superb Test batsman himself, lauded Kohli for trashing idea of four-day Tests which ICC has floated to pull in more crowds."I was called for a debate and I told m that if Virat Kohli doesn't want four day Tests, it's t happening," former England captain said as Kohli had a hearty laugh. Talking about becoming a better person, Kohli felt that he can count his blessings of having all comforts in life at a time when world is reeling under havoc wreaked by vel coronavirus.

"I am grateful God that I have a place to live at a time when people are struggling for jobs. You just want to sit back and reflect. You are filled with gratitude. We should never sit back and complain about what we don't have," he said. His aggressive on-field demeaur has polarised opinions but Indian skipper feels that for him, aggression is a form of enjoyment and n comes thinking about strategy. "I don't think I need to behave myself just because I am captain. I need to be abe to enjoy and n comes strategy."

But re is one guy he will never sledge in his life and that is AB de Villiers, for simple reason that re is just too much of respect."IPL has done a lot in terms of respecting each or. I would never ever be able to do it (seldging) with AB. re is a friendship that lasts much longer than all se things."In fact, asked to choose two batsmen he enjoys batting with most, De Villiers is one of m along with former skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

"I enjoy batting with those who understand my running between wickets. You have to understand my calls. I have enjoyed batting with MS and with AB, we don't even need to call as we look at each or and we kw." About turning vegetarian, Kohli spoke about how he developed a cervical spine problem during 2018 tour of South Africa.

"I had literally feel in my little fingers. It was also realised that I had an acidic stomach and calcium was being pulled from bones. I stopped eating meat and I never felt better. I can w play two Tests matches with little gap at 120 per cent intensity." As he had said earlier, he would like to play all formats till 2023 and n take a call, he reiterated that 2014 tour of England was lowest point of his career when he felt that failure was inevitable.

"It was a phase where I felt that re was chance of me getting any runs. I would get up and go to a match kwing that I will t get runs. To go through that feeling that you will fail demolished me."I promised never to let that happen to me again," he said with a mess for all youngsters who want to be next Virat Kohli.

reason for disaster in England was putting himself ahead of team and being "obsessed about his own game and success" and t being able to shut out voices who spoke about success in England being ultimate Test of a cricketer.
"Don't be self-centred," was his mess to youngsters.
A hero to millions, Kohli has his heroes too. One among m is Portuguese soccer star Cristia Ronaldo, who he likes more than Lionel Messi.

"I love his work ethic and ability to deflect all crap on outside," he reasoned.