Virat Kohli’s spiritual journey: How he went from 'I don’t look like puja-path type' to embracing ashrams and spiritual travel with Anushka Sharma

There was once a budding legend who made balls fly way past the earthen boundaries into the sky. The strike of his bat lit up the ground and his roar of fury had people scared. Virat Kohli's younger days on the cricket pitch were marked by furious batting and loud verbal battles. He was known to get angered with a simple comment and his temper calmed down with the speed of an hourglass. But if you meet the man now, these tales would seem like a half-cooked-up lie created for a tabloid. Only those who have been following his journey for years know how truly inspiring and exemplary it has been, not only professionally but also personally.

Aggressive, intense, competitive, unapologetic and expressive, these were some of the adjectives used to describe a young Virat Kohli on the field. At the time when asked about his stance on spirituality, he said "Do I look like the puja path type to you?" to the interviewer.

However, after his marriage to Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma, people began noticing a different side to Kohli. Anushka herself has always been known for her detached yet spiritual self. In many interviews and social media posts, she has often credited god for guiding her path through life. Once, she revealed that she lights a diya every day to seek guidance and dispel the darkness in her.

Over the years in their marriage, Kohli appeared calmer and more stable in life and on the field. Many credit Sharma for bringing enlightenment in his life and turning him towards the path of spirituality. For a player who claimed not to be the "puja-path" type, when the world saw him visiting the Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain alongside Sharma, the visit came as a shock. As he stepped out of the temple, he chanted "Har Har Mahadev," marking a visible shift in his beliefs.

In the past few years, the couple who have shifted base outside India have been seen making trips to the country with the sole aim of visiting the ashram of Premanand Maharaj in Vrindavan. Accompanied by their children, they have spent time in the spiritual leader's presence, leading many to believe that his teachings have played a crucial role in changing Kohli's mindset. They also visited the Neem Karoli Baba ashram, which has provided spiritual awakening to global leaders such as Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg.

From a flamboyant bachelor to a family man doused in religious belief, Kohli has completely changed his persona. He proudly claps in kirtans, wears a tika on the head and chants the holy name. His priorities find themselves straight in acting on the field and spending the rest of his time with his family and god. Rather than his aggressive nature, he now practices self-awareness and introspection when things go wrong on the field. And in personal life, well it could have never been better as who hasn't seen him passing a flying kiss to his wife sitting in the stands? Today, Virat Kohli stands as an example of how one's life can turn around when they indulge in spirituality positively, becoming a better version of themselves in all aspects.