Indian skipper Virat Kohli has been an absolute superstar for the Men in Blue. His records and stats are mind-boggling in the world of cricket. However, the prolific batsman has gone through some of the darkest phases in his career.&nbsp;

IN PICS|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/photos/from-virat-kohli-to-simone-biles-sports-icon-who-battled-with-mental-health-issues-tokyo-olympics-402532" hreflang="en">From Virat Kohli to Simone Biles: Sports icons who battled with mental health issues</a>

One such phase was the forgettable series of England in the year 2014 when the Indian batsman scored just 134 runs from four Tests and averaged just over 13 with scores of 1, 8, 25, 0, 39, 28, 0, 7, 6 and 20. However, he bounced back in form during the tour of Australia, later that year when he scored 692 runs in four Tests.&nbsp;

"To be honest before that Australia tour, I was treating every foreign tour like, more like an engineering exam, that I have to pass somehow and I have to show people that I can play at this level," Kohli told Dinesh Karthik in an interaction on Sky Sports.

"There I realised that once you are down and out, there was hardly anyone who came to help me, there was hardly anyone who was looking towards me and saying listen let’s work together and you know try to get your game up to speed, everyone was just going after me left, right and centre. So, I was like I am playing to prove these people long, for what, I have got nothing to do with them, they literally have nothing to contribute in my life."

"So, I went back home, I was down for quite a bit, the great thing that happened at that stage was, I realised who is with me, who’s not, things were filtered to an extent that I just got so relaxed when I went back home, I was like okay. I have hit a rock bottom now, no one believes in me, everyone thinks I should not be playing Test cricket, so what can I do, I can just work hard as I can," Kohli elaborated.

He recalled his pep talk with Sachin Tendulkar and how his advice helped him change his play.&nbsp;

"I went into a bubble, I went to Bombay as well, I called Sachin Tendulkar, I asked for his help, I said I want to get my game right, I want to understand what it is like to score runs at this level, my mindset was simple. I went back home and I told myself, listen you can’t play Test cricket to show people that you can play in England, Australia and not get out. If you don’t score it is not a point, you play this game to make your team win. So my mindset was I am going to go to Australia and how I am going to score runs against these guys.

"I wasn’t going out there to survive, and from the time I got back home till the Australia tour, I promise you I was visualizing everyday, when I was working out in the gym, that I am hitting Mitchell Johnson, I am hitting these guys all over the park. Those things came to life eventually because I convinced myself to an extent, when I went there I was absolutely fearless and things just started flowing."

Indian skipper Virat Kohli has been an absolute superstar for the Men in Blue. His records and stats are mind-boggling in the world of cricket. However, the prolific batsman has gone through some of the darkest phases in his career.

Indian skipper Virat Kohli has been an absolute superstar for the Men in Blue. His records and stats are mind-boggling in the world of cricket. However, the prolific batsman has gone through some of the darkest phases in his career. IN PICS| From Virat Kohli to Simone Biles: Sports icons who battled with mental health issues One such phase was the forgettable series of England in the year 2014 when the Indian batsman scored just 134 runs from four Tests and averaged just over 13 with scores of 1, 8, 25, 0, 39, 28, 0, 7, 6 and 20. However, he bounced back in form during the tour of Australia, later that year when he scored 692 runs in four Tests. "To be honest before that Australia tour, I was treating every foreign tour like, more like an engineering exam, that I have to pass somehow and I have to show people that I can play at this level," Kohli told Dinesh Karthik in an interaction on Sky Sports. "There I realised that once you are down and out, there was hardly anyone who came to help me, there was hardly anyone who was looking towards me and saying listen let’s work together and you know try to get your game up to speed, everyone was just going after me left, right and centre. So, I was like I am playing to prove these people long, for what, I have got nothing to do with them, they literally have nothing to contribute in my life." "So, I went back home, I was down for quite a bit, the great thing that happened at that stage was, I realised who is with me, who’s not, things were filtered to an extent that I just got so relaxed when I went back home, I was like okay. I have hit a rock bottom now, no one believes in me, everyone thinks I should not be playing Test cricket, so what can I do, I can just work hard as I can," Kohli elaborated. He recalled his pep talk with Sachin Tendulkar and how his advice helped him change his play. "I went into a bubble, I went to Bombay as well, I called Sachin Tendulkar, I asked for his help, I said I want to get my game right, I want to understand what it is like to score runs at this level, my mindset was simple. I went back home and I told myself, listen you can’t play Test cricket to show people that you can play in England, Australia and not get out. If you don’t score it is not a point, you play this game to make your team win. So my mindset was I am going to go to Australia and how I am going to score runs against these guys. "I wasn’t going out there to survive, and from the time I got back home till the Australia tour, I promise you I was visualizing everyday, when I was working out in the gym, that I am hitting Mitchell Johnson, I am hitting these guys all over the park. Those things came to life eventually because I convinced myself to an extent, when I went there I was absolutely fearless and things just started flowing."

Cricket - 'Hit a rock bottom': Virat Kohli recalls forgettable 2014 England series

Virat Kohli, who is regarded as one of the best batsmen to have ever played cricket, has opened up about his battle with depression during India's tour of England, where the swashbuckling batsman went through the worst form of his life.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Indian skipper has revealed how he felt he was the "loneliest&nbsp;guy in the world" as he&nbsp;narrated&nbsp;his struggle during India's tour of England in 2014, where he averaged a mere 13.50 in 10 innings – his lowest in a series with more than three&nbsp;Tests.&nbsp;&nbsp;

When asked&nbsp;by former England first-class cricketer and a renowned commentator Nicholas on his 'Not Just Cricket' podcast, whether he had suffered from depression during India's tour of England in 2014, Kohli answered "Yes, I did".&nbsp;&nbsp;

Kohli had returned with scores of&nbsp;1, 8, 25, 0, 39, 28, 0,7, 6 and 20 in five Tests, averaging 13.50 in his 10 innings.&nbsp;&nbsp;

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"...it's not a great feeling to wake up knowing that you won't be able to score runs and I think all batsmen have felt that at some stage that you are not in control of anything at all," he recalled.&nbsp;

However, showing his class, Kohli roared back to form in India's next immediate assignment – a tour of Australia – where he hammered 692 runs in the Test series.&nbsp;

"You just don't understand how to get over it. That was a phase when I literally couldn't do anything to overturn things...I felt like I was the loneliest guy in the world," he said of the England tour.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"Personally, for me, that was a revelation that you could feel that lonely even though you a part of a big group. I won't say I didn't have people who I could speak to but not having a professional to speak to who could understand what I am going through completely, I think is a huge factor.&nbsp;&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-auction-2021-complete-players-list-of-all-eight-squads-364617" hreflang="en">IPL Auction 2021: Complete players list of all eight squads</a>

"I think I would like to see it change,” Kohli responded as he said that mental health issues should be an important topic in everyone's life.&nbsp;

"Someone whom you can go to at any stage, have a conversation around and say 'Listen this is what I am feeling, I am finding it hard to even go to sleep, I feel like I don't want to wake up in the morning. I have no confidence in myself, what do I do?'&nbsp;

"Lot of people suffer with that feeling for longer periods of time, it carries on for months, it carries on for a whole cricket season, people are not able to get out of it," Kohli said.&nbsp;

"I strongly feel the need for professional help there to be very honest," he added.&nbsp;

(With PTI inputs)&nbsp;

Virat Kohli, who is regarded as one of the best batsmen to have ever played cricket, has opened up about his battle with depression during India's tour of England, where the swashbuckling batsman went through the worst form of his life.

Virat Kohli, who is regarded as one of the best batsmen to have ever played cricket, has opened up about his battle with depression during India's tour of England, where the swashbuckling batsman went through the worst form of his life. The Indian skipper has revealed how he felt he was the "loneliest guy in the world" as he narrated his struggle during India's tour of England in 2014, where he averaged a mere 13.50 in 10 innings – his lowest in a series with more than three Tests. When asked by former England first-class cricketer and a renowned commentator Nicholas on his 'Not Just Cricket' podcast, whether he had suffered from depression during India's tour of England in 2014, Kohli answered "Yes, I did". Kohli had returned with scores of 1, 8, 25, 0, 39, 28, 0,7, 6 and 20 in five Tests, averaging 13.50 in his 10 innings. ALSO READ: Zaheer Khan, Mahela Jayawardene open up on Mumbai Indians signing Arjun Tendulkar "...it's not a great feeling to wake up knowing that you won't be able to score runs and I think all batsmen have felt that at some stage that you are not in control of anything at all," he recalled. However, showing his class, Kohli roared back to form in India's next immediate assignment – a tour of Australia – where he hammered 692 runs in the Test series. "You just don't understand how to get over it. That was a phase when I literally couldn't do anything to overturn things...I felt like I was the loneliest guy in the world," he said of the England tour. "Personally, for me, that was a revelation that you could feel that lonely even though you a part of a big group. I won't say I didn't have people who I could speak to but not having a professional to speak to who could understand what I am going through completely, I think is a huge factor. ALSO READ: IPL Auction 2021: Complete players list of all eight squads "I think I would like to see it change,” Kohli responded as he said that mental health issues should be an important topic in everyone's life. "Someone whom you can go to at any stage, have a conversation around and say 'Listen this is what I am feeling, I am finding it hard to even go to sleep, I feel like I don't want to wake up in the morning. I have no confidence in myself, what do I do?' "Lot of people suffer with that feeling for longer periods of time, it carries on for months, it carries on for a whole cricket season, people are not able to get out of it," Kohli said. "I strongly feel the need for professional help there to be very honest," he added. (With PTI inputs)

'Felt like the loneliest guy': Virat Kohli opens up on battle with depression

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Cricket - 'Hit a rock bottom': Virat Kohli recalls forgettable 2014 England series

'Felt like the loneliest guy': Virat Kohli opens up on battle with depression