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PV Sindhu Reveals How a Phone Call With Virat Kohli Changed Her Comeback Journey

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By Kishan Prajapat (KP Think), Published July 21, 2026

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PV Sindhu & Virat Kohli

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PV Sindhu recently revealed how an interaction with Virat Kohli came at one of the toughest junctures of her career in a recent interview. For her, it was a turning point when Virat Kohli told PV Sindhu ‘don’t chase results, trust the process’ and she was able to regain confidence and start a fantastic sports comeback story.


Introduction

Every top athlete reaches a stage where the results don’t match the expectations. Injuries, criticism and pressure often plant seeds of doubt even the best players struggle to overcome. The latest revelation about Virat Kohli and PV Sindhu gives a rare insight into the emotional side of professional sport.


Kohli is celebrated for his feats on the cricket field but Sindhu said his words meant so much more than cricket. They were not talking about technique or strategy or medals. It was about patience, discipline and the belief that if you keep at it, it will pay off. But those few minutes proved to be far more valuable to Sindhu than she had imagined. “Looking back today, I think that conversation helped shift the arc of my career.”


What Did Happen?

“It was one of the toughest phases of my professional career,” Sindhu said in a recent interaction. Injuries, inconsistent performances and rising expectations served only to make it more difficult to sustain confidence. Athletes train for months for major tournaments, their performances judged in a matter of hours. Sindhu said it can be mentally exhausting to deal with those expectations all the time, especially after performing at the highest level.


This is when she spoke to Virat Kohli. It was not meant to be a motivational session but it soon turned out to be one of the defining moments of her comeback PV Sindhu. They talked about dealing with setbacks, patience, trusting the work happening behind the scenes, not rankings or records.


What Did PV Sindhu Say?

Further, Sindhu said that Kohli’s point of view resonated with her immediately as he had gone through the same struggles in his cricketing journey. “Listening to someone who has experienced criticism, gone through difficult phases and bounced back stronger gave me the reassurance that setbacks are just part of every athlete’s journey,” she said. Instead of trying to win immediately, she worked on getting better every day, healing, training with discipline and keeping a healthier attitude. Sindhu said changing her thinking was more important than making technical changes. She acknowledged that one win does not immediately restore confidence. It comes out slowly when an athlete keeps the faith in the process.


What Did Virat Kohli Say to Her?

Virat Kohli’s advice was based on one simple idea – trust the process, said Sindhu. He told her to believe in her preparation and not to be obsessed with immediate results. Elite athletes don’t get to control every outcome. “They can control their preparation, their attitude, their discipline and commitment each and every day.


"Difficult periods do pass, when players keep doing the right things consistently and do not look for quick fixes," Kohli explained. It was a simple enough message, but it carried a lot of weight coming from a man who had rebuilt his own career more than once. It made the advice seem real, not inspirational.


Why Was This Discussion Important?

Much more than the body is demanded of elite sport. Every defeat comes with criticism. With every comeback comes new expectations. Every tournament is another challenge.


“Hearing similar stories from one of India’s greatest cricketers made me realise every champion goes through phases of uncertainty,” confessed Sindhu. The talk also revealed something fans do not see often. Behind medals and trophies there is an ongoing fight that has to do with confidence, recovery, expectations and mental toughness in sports. Sometimes a single conversation can change an athlete’s perspective completely.


How It Changed Her Return

After the conversation, Sindhu started focusing on what she could do for herself rather than what others expected of her. She concentrated on getting a little better each day, not the rankings or what people thought. I enjoyed training again. The recovery sessions seemed more meaningful. She gradually got her confidence back. Sindhu rebuilt herself physically and mentally with coaches Wayne Lombard and Irwansyah guiding her and husband Venkata Datta Sai beside her.


Her dedication to PV Sindhu fitness also came handy in this phase, and it helped her to play consistently at the top level once again. “Comebacks from one match do not happen very often. It often starts with a change in mindset. Sindhu believes the phone call was one of those moments that helped mould her approach to competition.


Fans Responses

News of the story quickly spread on social media, with fans praising the mutual respect shown between two of India s biggest sporting stars. While many felt Virat Kohli helped PV Sindhu at the right time, some also liked the fact that Sindhu was honest to speak about the difficult moments. Supporters also said athletes from different sports often understand each other’s struggles better than anyone else. The conversation began to feel like more than just a headline.


It was a reminder that sometimes it’s encouragement and shared experiences that can impact careers as much as technical coaching.


Why This is Important

Indian sport has reached an era where athletes from different disciplines are regularly learning from each other. Cricketers, badminton players, wrestlers, shooters, Olympic champions freely share experiences beyond competition. Such a culture is good for the individual and Indian sport at large. As an Indian badminton champion, Sindhu has already inspired so many young players with her performances at the World Championships and the Asian Games.


That inspiration is all the more powerful because she’s willing to speak of vulnerable moments. Talent doesn’t usually get you to success. Perspective, patience and resilience are often just as important. Fans will realize that champions are always learning throughout their careers, no matter what they’ve already achieved. Stories like this serve as a reminder of that.


Conclusion

PV Sindhu’s revelation provides a rare insight into an aspect of elite sport that fans rarely get to see. Every successful comeback has doubt, uncertainty and months of hard work that you never see on the scorecard ahead of it. For Sindhu, it was a perfect timing with a phone call from Virat Kohli. His advice helped her to believe in the process rather than immediate success, helping to change the mindset that aided her return to the top-level badminton.


The story also points to something far beyond individual achievement. Great athletes continue to inspire each other in sports. Resilience, patience and belief are qualities that go beyond every discipline. “Success is a journey. Sometimes it’s the right mindset, sometimes it’s the right conversation at the right time. Whether it is a cricket field or a badminton court, it’s always a journey back to success.”


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