Virat Kohli Nickname: The legendary Indian batsman Virat Kohli is well-known throughout his own country and is acknowledged for his exceptional abilities on the cricket pitch. Cricket fans have taken a great like to the Delhi-born cricketer’s nickname, “Cheeku,” in addition to his real name.
When Virat Kohli was a young player, he shocked the cricket world by handily defeating the top bowlers in the world. As a result, cricket fans began to call him “Chikoo.”
It is important to note that Virat’s pet nickname, “cheeku,” became well-known due in large part to the light hearted banter between him and former India captain MS Dhoni behind the stumps.
Virat Kohli’s special interview.
– The King. pic.twitter.com/B21pNk3rxe
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) September 5, 2023
Dhoni would refer to Virat by his nickname during games, which elevated it to the top of cricket discourse.
“From behind the stumps, Dhoni has made my nickname popular. “People pick out the stumps’ microphone,” Kohli said Kevin Pietersen in an Instagram exchange.
The Origin of the Virat Kohli’s famous nickname “Cheeku”
However, it is often believed that Virat did not get his peculiar moniker from Dhoni. During an hour-long Instagram conversation with former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen, captain Virat Kohli confronted the truth.
The right-handed batsman said that not Dhoni but his state coach is credited with nickname “Cheeku,” which he adopted as a pet name. This information was provided during a recent interview with Star Sports.
“This nickname was given to me by my Ranji Trophy coach. I cut my hair short at the time since I was having serious hair loss. I also had prominent cheekbones and erect ears at the time.
Chiku, the rabbit, appeared in the Champak comic book series at the time. “The coach chose that nickname as he thought my facial features resembled those of a rabbit,” he told Peitersen.
Story of Kohli’s “Cheeku” nickname given by his coach
Senior Journalist Vijay Lokapally has now detailed the episode that led to Kohli being referred to as ‘cheeku’ in his biography of the man himself.
“The Delhi team was in Mumbai for the Ranji Trophy match. Virat has not played in ten first-class games. He was part of squad that includes players he respect such as Gautam Gambhir, Rajat Bhatia, Mithun Manhas, and Virender Sehwag.
“When he arrived back at the hotel one evening, his hair was perfectly cropped. He changed his appearance after visiting a luxury hair salon nearby.
“How is it?” Kohli questioned a few younger players, full of enthusiasm. The assistant coach, Ajit Chowdhary, commented from a distance, “Not bad; you look like a Cheeku (Sapodilla).”
“The name left an effect. Cheeku. Lokapally writes, “Virat did not mind at all.
FAQ’s on Virat Kohli Nickname:
- What is Virat Kohli’s nickname?
- Virat Kohli’s nickname is “Cheeku.”
- Who gave Virat Kohli the nickname “Cheeku”?
- The nickname “Cheeku” was given to Virat Kohli by his state coach during his Ranji Trophy days.
- Why was Virat Kohli called “Cheeku”?
- He was called “Cheeku” because his features, including his short haircut, large cheekbones, and erect ears, resembled those of a rabbit named Chiku from a comic book series called Champak.
- Was MS Dhoni responsible for popularizing the nickname “Cheeku”?
- While MS Dhoni did use the nickname “Cheeku” during matches, it was actually Virat Kohli’s state coach who initially gave him the nickname. However, Dhoni’s use of the nickname on the field contributed to its widespread popularity among cricket fans.
- Is there a story behind how Virat Kohli’s coach came up with the nickname “Cheeku”?
- Yes, during a Ranji Trophy match in Mumbai, Virat Kohli returned to the hotel with a new haircut. Observing his new appearance, assistant coach Ajit Chowdhary remarked that Kohli looked like a “Cheeku” (Sapodilla).
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