Watch: Virat Kohli in conversation with Viv Richards; talks about batting in 70s and facing pacers

Virat Kohli-led team India will have their eyes set on making a winning start to their two-match test series against West Indies when both the team will face each other in the first Test at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua on Thursday.

Even before taking the field, Kohli had a fan moment with the legendary West Indian batsman Sir Vivian Richards as both of them has a quick chat regarding the golden era of West Indies cricket. 

King Kohli turns anchor and quizzes the Caribbean Master to understand his fearless mindset - by @28anand

The Indian skipper played host in this interview and introduced Richards saying that 'he is the greatest inspiration to all of us batsmen".

Speaking to Richards he asked him about how he felt while walking out to bat without having much protection  

“Whenever I have seen videos of you walking out, you’re in a hat, no helmets back then. Even when there were after a point you chose not to because it was something that made you feel like you have the belief and you are chewing gum. I know the pitches were not as prepared or as covered back then. What was it like? What went through your head walking out knowing that you don’t have a lot of protection. There is no restriction on bouncers and then you go out and dominate like that. What did you feel from the time you left the changing room till you got to the pitch. What was the mindset?” he asked.

“I believed I am the man,”  replied Vivian Richards. It may sound arrogant but I always felt that I was involved in a game that I knew. I would back myself every time. You have to back yourself to get hurt, to take the knocks. But the helmet I tried, I am not going to lie and tell you. But, it felt a little uncomfortable. So I felt my cap, my maroon cap which was given to me. I felt so proud with that. My mindset was that if I am good enough to be here, if I get hurt it’s god’s will. I will survive” said the 67-year-old replied.

During the conversation, Kohli also shared his thoughts about facing fast bowlers and how he likes to get early on in the innings.

“I feel like it’s better to get hit early on and get to know the feeling than always feeling like you might get hit. So, I prefer actually getting hit early on and really hard so it motivates me even further not allow that to happen again, just that pain to go through your body and be like – okay enough, it’s not happening again,” he said.

Richards, who faced terrifying pacers  Dennis Lillee, Jeff Thomson, Bob Willis to name a few, said that batsmen getting hit as part and parcel of the sport.

“Because to be fair while batting you are going to get hurt. It depends on how you come back from this knocks. In the old days, before these little guards (chest guards) around your ribs, you take it there and that’s when you feel it. You take a count but then that’s part and parcel of the sport,” he concluded.