Cricket

Virat Kohli, the star Indian batter, has expressed his admiration for American basketball legend Michael Jordan, citing his on-court intensity and unwavering determination as sources of inspiration. Kohli, who is currently participating in the ICC T20 World Cup, recalled his childhood fascination with Jordan's matches in the National Basketball Association (NBA)."I used to love watching Kobe Bryant play as well," Kohli said, "but the time that I saw Michael Jordan play, I clearly remember there used to be the early morning basketball games that used to be aired on ESPN in India. And I used to be up quite early to go to cricket practice. So I would always catch all of those games."Kohli was particularly drawn to Jordan's body language and competitive spirit. "Just watching him play, it was just a real natural connect with his body language, with the way he moved on the court and just his personality," he said. "And that, you know, you could see on his face the intensity and the will to win. And I just immediately connected."Kohli's admiration for Jordan extended beyond his on-court performances. He recalled marking the Chicago Bulls' game schedule in the newspaper and making sure he was awake to watch them play. "There was magic in every game that he played," Kohli said. "There was something or the other happening. So for me, that was a very strong core memory and something that I still hold very dearly."Jordan, who played for the Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards during his illustrious career, is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He won six NBA Championship titles, six NBA Finals Most Valuable Player awards, and five NBA MVP awards.Kohli's admiration for Jordan is a testament to the global reach and impact of sports icons. Despite playing different sports in different countries, Kohli and Jordan share a common passion for excellence and a relentless pursuit of victory.

Rohit Sharma's Lighthearted Encounter with the NBA TrophyAs Team India prepares for the T20 World Cup, captain Rohit Sharma took a break to interact with the iconic NBA championship trophy at the Nassau County International Stadium in New York. The skipper's playful demeanor and love for basketball were evident throughout the interaction.In a video posted by the NBA on Instagram, Rohit addressed the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy in Punjabi, saying, "Oh Larry paaji, kya haal chaal?" His humorous greeting amused fans, adding a fun twist to the serious preparations for the upcoming tournament.Rohit's admiration for basketball was further highlighted when he revealed his favorite player, the legendary Michael Jordan. "My favorite has always been Michael Jordan, for what he did for the Chicago Bulls is obviously quite inspiring," he said.The Indian captain also expressed his enjoyment in watching current-generation basketball stars like LeBron James and Stephen Curry. "Guys like LeBron James, Steph Curry, those are the guys I love watching," he said.Rohit's lighthearted comments extended to the weight of the NBA trophy. "Oh, it looks quite heavy. No wonder they're so big and tall and strong," he remarked.The ICC T20 World Cup is set to take place in the West Indies and the USA from June 2 to 29. Team India will face Bangladesh in their only warm-up game on June 1 in New York.India will be aiming to capture their first T20 World Cup title since their victory in the inaugural edition of the tournament back in 2007. In the most recent edition hosted in Australia in 2022, India faced a disappointing defeat to England in the semifinals.