Watch: When Virat Kohli scribbled poetry

“It’s sweet (being called King). I know they say it out of affection but I dont prefer it. I like to be called by my name. Like e sale cup namde, don’t say king,” he told the host.

Taking off from last year’s gags when he had broken the chair’s spine and joked about having ‘lost his seat’, Kohli said, “Last year I lost my seat. I’ve got the back of my seat back.” He however refused to call it a throne, saying he preferred a lazy boy massage chair, instead.

On RCB fans holding expectations of a title this year, he philosophised, “I’ ll give one advice – never voice your expectations. Have them, but keep them inside don’t say it. Once you say it, it becomes a demand. If we win, we celebrate, if we don’t, we can debate.”

Kohli would also say he was in a much happier mindspace returning to Bengaluru. “It feels amazing honestly to be back in Bengaluru. Last time we were here in 2019, same hotel. Now when I entered I feel like I didn’t even see what the room looks like back then. I was in some other space only. Stressed all the time. Now I look at it and think ‘How did I not appreciate the hotel.’ Beautiful. When I landed I’m in a different space now. Felt the excitement of people. When they see me at airport, you can sense. They were very happy to see me. I’m very happy to be back.”

He would joke about RCB winning a trophy if it was content not cricket being the benchmark on the RCB Insider. “Our social media performance is miles ahead of everyone. Uspe lao na trophy phir dekho. You bring one social media trophy RCB will win. No competition only. Two weeks into the tournament RCB will win. Don’t need to play after that.”

He however noted there was pressure when it came to winning. “This is big franchise pressure. Lot of people take it as fun and games and haha this team doesn’t win. Play when there are so much expectations. It’s a big team. Why would we have so many fans if we were a faaltu team?”

He ended with a spot of poetry.

“Fulfill your desire
Ignite the fire
Bat through the tough times
Sometimes it’s 263, sometimes it’s 49
Life can put you in a pickle
Laugh through like it’s a tickle
Whether you get a 100 or a duck
Life goes on, don’t get stuck
There is no map ride the tide
You are your own guide”

Kohli would then finish with a flourish ending with a book drop of the hotel stationery, like a mic drop.