Does Virat Kohli fake aggression for cameras? Sanjay Manjrekar offers ringside view

After a season defined by a prolific run of scores that kept Royal Challengers Bengaluru within striking distance of the playoffs, Virat Kohli has hit a sudden, jarring speed bump: back-to-back ducks at a time when his team can least afford a stumble. This rare turbulence in form has provided the perfect backdrop for Sanjay Manjrekar to offer a soul-baring post-mortem of the Kohli DNA.

Speaking on Sportstar’s Insight Edge Podcast, the former Indian cricketer dismantled the cynicism that often clouds Kohli’s on-field persona. Manjrekar argues that the fire burning in the 37-year-old today isn't a modern artifice, but the same raw combustion that ignited his journey in the age-group dusty bowls of Delhi.

It is a point of constant debate among fans and even within the inner sanctum of the game. While millions adore his unbridled passion, the sheer consistency of his intensity—celebrating a routine wicket in an IPL match with the same primal roar as a World Cup win—leads some to wonder if it’s a performance tailored for the 4K cameras. Manjrekar, however, is quick to shut down the sceptics who view Kohli as a man playing to the gallery.

"A lot of people, even players, believe that he does it for the camera," Manjrekar said.

"I beg to differ, because this is a guy I’ve seen even at the Under-19 level. This is how he plays the game, and that is what has driven him, even as a batter. When he gets angry with the opposition, he just plays better."

It is this interesting energy, a frantic, unyielding pulse, that has defied the natural ageing process. Conventional wisdom suggests that as a player’s hair greys and his trophy cabinet fills, the adrenaline should give way to a mellowed stoicism.

Kohli has ignored the memo.

"I thought, at this age, he would calm down a little bit. But I’m seeing him take catches, pull off run-outs, and just have too much energy," Manjrekar said.

SENSITIVE SUPERHUMAN

Perhaps the most revealing facet of the discussion touched upon the contradiction between Kohli’s public defiance and his private awareness. Throughout his career, Kohli has been the poster boy for the "we don't listen to the outside noise" mantra. Manjrekar’s personal experiences suggest a more vulnerable reality.

"He's one of those first guys who kept saying, you know, we don't care about what people say... so he's also very sensitive [to criticism]," Manjrekar said.

He recalled instances where the atmosphere at the toss would suddenly turn "cold," leading him to suspect that a stray comment on air had reached the captain’s ears.

However, Manjrekar views this sensitivity not as a weakness, but as a strategic asset.

"Maybe it's a good thing as well that if he hears that kind of criticism or something negative, that will just spur him on to get that next big hundred."

Manjrekar also reflected on the fiery leader era, noting how Kohli’s personality became the blueprint for the Indian team.

"The team wears the look of the captain," he said.

Under Kohli’s tenure, a "flat" body language was a cardinal sin. If a player didn't mirror that manic energy, they risked being sidelined. This cultural shift demanded that every player, essentially, "had to be like Virat Kohli”.

The timing of these insights is poignant. In IPL 2026, Kohli’s bat has briefly gone cold. The twin ducks may have provided fresh ammunition that will work in RCB’s favour as they enter the last leg of the group stages.

Kohli, strangely, has not been in the race to the Orange Cap. While he started the season on a high. he is currently out of the top 10 in the batting charts of IPL 2026 with 379 runs in 11 matches.

Kohli will be raring to go when RCB take on Kolkata Knight Riders in their 12th match of the season in Raipur on Wednesday, May 12.

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