‘When I needed someone, he was there’: PV Sindhu recalls Virat Kohli’s comeback role | Cricket news

PV Sindhu thanks Virat Kohli for his comeback (Image: Agencies)

PV Sindhu has opened up about how a conversation with Virat Kohli helped her get through one of the toughest phases of her career following a serious injury in 2025, ultimately inspiring a remarkable comeback that culminated in a historic Japan Open title.The two-time Olympic medalist suffered a torn ligament in her toe during training in September 2025, forcing her to cut her season short and focus entirely on rehabilitation. Under the supervision of renowned sports orthopedist Dr. Dinshaw Pardiwala, Sindhu underwent three months of complete rest followed by an extensive rehabilitation program.During that challenging period, Sindhu, accompanied by her husband Venkata Datta Sai, reached out to Kohli for guidance. The former India captain responded almost immediately and the trio met the very next day.Sharing an emotional moment on X while reposting her husband’s interview with The Indian Express, Sindhu revealed how the encounter became a turning point in her recovery.“However, one thing I will always be grateful for is Virat bhai. I reached out to him at one of the worst points of my career. The injuries were piling up, the results weren’t coming and I just needed someone who would understand. He replied within minutes and we met the very next day. What we talked about will always stay between us. But I will always be grateful that when I needed someone, he was there. He didn’t say much, but every the word stayed with Datta and me. Some conversations change the way you see things. “That was one of them,” Sindhu wrote further

Datta Sai reveals Kohli’s influence

In his interview with The Indian Express, Sindhu’s husband Venkata Datta Sai explained how Kohli’s words continued to inspire them throughout the recovery process. “We had to rebuild her joy, and Virat’s words kept ringing in my head. At the Exos Sports Performance facility in Atlanta, she trained with three excellent coaches, Wayne, Tim and Rayan,” recalled Datta.

A historic victory at the Japan Open completes the comeback

The comeback reached its perfect conclusion on 19 July 2026, when Sindhu made history by winning the women’s singles title at the Japan Open, becoming the first Indian shuttler in any discipline to lift the prestigious crown in the tournament’s 43-year history. As the world number 12 entering the tournament, the 31-year-old produced a clinical performance in the final at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, defeating home favorite and world number one. 3 Akane Yamaguchi 21-17, 21-17 in straight games.