In an interview on JioStar's 'Superstars' during the 2026 IPL season, Krunal Pandya explicitly broke down what makes Virat Kohli a different beast altogether. Sharing the Royal Challengers Bengaluru dressing room gave Pandya a front-row seat to Kohli’s daily habits. Pandya pointed out that Kohli's passion is immediately visible before he even faces a ball. He explained that you can see the absolute hunger for victory in Kohli's eyes during simple warm-ups, a characteristic that has remained completely unchanged despite Kohli achieving everything possible in cricket. "When you see Virat Kohli, those eyes don't lie, you can see that hunger, you can see the passion, how he sees the game, how much he wants the victory—that's the standout for me. Virat Kohli inspired generations to generations.”

Most modern cricketers manage their energy by dialling back intensity during net sessions or lower-stakes practices. Pandya emphasized that Kohli does not have a middle gear. Whether it is a final match in front of 100,000 screaming fans or a routine Tuesday afternoon training session, his running between the wickets, his sharp fielding drills, and his batting focus remain exactly the same. Pandya also shared a fascinating perspective from a teammate's point of view regarding Kohli's rare slumps. "Whenever Virat Kohli misses out in a couple of games, I actually get excited because I know a big comeback is coming.”

Krunal Pandya on playing with Virat Kohli when he captained India 

During his appearance on JioStar's 'Superstars', Krunal Pandya reflected on his long journey of watching Virat Kohli, specifically mentioning what it was like to play under Kohli's captaincy for Team India. Pandya noted that observing Kohli's preparation and intensity during their time playing together for India was a major learning experience. He described Kohli's hunger for improvement as "unbelievable," noting that the same high intensity in net sessions observed during his captaincy days remains, which defines his character. “I have learned a lot just by watching Virat Kohli, the way he prepares for a tournament and the intensity he brings to every practice session. I have played with him for India when he was captain, and I have also played against him. Now, I am lucky to share the same dressing room with him again,” Krunal said.

Pandya highlighted that the intense preparation and hunger for improvement he observed while playing under Kohli's captaincy for India remains identical today.Even years ago, Kohli's approach in net sessions was known to set an uncompromising, high-octane standard, according to Pandya. Pandya concluded that this unmatched level of self-discipline is why Kohli cannot be compared to normal players. He noted that Kohli’s baseline work ethic is so elevated that he would have been a dominant great in any era of cricket history, whether playing 40 years ago or 40 years from now.