MS Dhoni only one who texted me after I left Test captaincy: Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli expressed his heartfelt respect for MS Dhoni after India's loss to Pakistan at the Asia Cup on Sunday.

Speaking about the former India captain at the press conference after India's last-over defeat in their first match of the Super 4 stage, Kohli said Dhoni was the only teammate who reached out to him after he announced that he would be relinquishing India's Test captaincy.

"When I left Test captaincy, MS Dhoni was the only one among all the cricketers I had played with before who texted me. A lot of people have my number but he was the only one who texted me. It comes from the genuine respect that we have from each other. There is no insecurity from either end in our equation," Kohli said.

"These things matter. I live my life with honesty and these things matter for me.

"I just want to say this, if i have to tell someone about their game, I reach out individually. Even if I have to reach out to them, I do it personally." he added.

Kohli was responding to a question on how he coped with the tough phase he endured off the field and who reached out to him during the phase.

Kohli top scored with 60 during India's 181/7 in the Asia Cup Super 4 match, which Pakistan chased down with one ball to spare.

The former skipper Kohli did not take any name but perhaps he was referring to batting great Sunil Gavaskar, who had said that if he had 20 minutes with Kohli, he would tell him things to do to overcome lean patch. Ahead of the tournament, Kohli had spoken about his one-month break in which he did not even hold a bat, indicating that he was mentally drained out.

"I've played for 14 years, it doesn't happen by chance. My job is to work hard on my game, something that I am always keen to do for the team and something that I continue to do.

"Everyone's doing their job eventually, our job is to play the game, work hard, give our 120% and I've said it in the past that as long as I am doing that and the team has faith in that, what happens in the change room is the only thing that matters to us, and to me personally."

Former cricketers talk a lot on television and Kohli is fine with that.

"People have their opinions and that's absolutely fine but that doesn't change my happiness as a person. I've taken some time away, put things in perspective. It's given me kind of a relaxation that this is not the be-all and end-all of life.

"I need to enjoy the game, I can't put so much pressure of expectation on myself, that I am not able to express myself. That is not why I started playing this game."

Having got much needed time away from the game, Kohli has come back refreshed and that is showing on the field.

"I was able to find that excitement back. And when I came here, the environment was very welcoming, the camaraderie with the boys is amazing, the environment in the team is amazing. I am absolutely loving playing at the moment again and I am feeling good with the way I am batting," he said.

(With PTI inputs)