Kohli reveals lack of support when stepping down as captain
Kohli is India's most successful Test captain but relinquished the role in January this year after a 2-1 series loss to South Africa, with Rohit Sharma handed the reins.
The 33-year-old Kohli had been Test captain since taking over from Dhoni in 2014 and led India in 68 matches for 40 wins and 17 losses.
"When I left the Test captaincy, MS Dhoni was the only one among all the cricketers I had played with before who texted me” Kohli told reporters after India’s Asia Cup loss to Pakistan.
“A lot of people have my number but he was the only one who texted me.
“It comes from the genuine respect that we have for each other. There is no insecurity from either end in our equation.
"These things matter. I live my life with honesty and these things matter for me.
"I just want to say this, if I have to tell someone about their game, I reach out individually. Even if I have to reach out to them, I do it personally."
Kohli had already given up the India T20I captaincy after the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup last year, with Sharma installed as leader in both white-ball formats at the time.
The right-handed Kohli has failed to score an international ton in any format since 2019 but with more time to focus on his own game has shown signs of a return to form in the Asia Cup 2022.
Kohli top scored for India with 60 off 44 balls before being run out in the final over during a dramatic T20I loss to Pakistan in the Super 4 phase of the Asia Cup.
The former skipper is now averaging 77 in three innings in the tournament, as he presses his claims to be part of the India squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Australia later this year.
"I've played for 14 years, it doesn't happen by chance,” Kohli said about his current form.
“I’ve taken some time away, put things in perspective and that’s given me a relaxation that this is not the be-all and end-all of life.
“I need to enjoy the game, I can’t put so much pressure on myself with expectations that I’m not able to express myself. That is not why I started playing the game.”
With back-to-back half-centuries in the Asia Cup, Kohli has now passed 50 a record 32 times in T20Is from 102 matches.
Current India T20I captain Sharma is next best with four tons and 27 half-centuries from 135 matches.