Yuzvendra Chahal has revealed that he saw Virat Kohli and almost every other India player cry in the bathrooms after losing the 2019 World Cup semi-final to New Zealand in Manchester. India lost that match on the reserved day by 18 runs, failing to chase 240 after an excellent bowling performance.
Chahal made the revelation on the podcast, Figuring Out With Raj Shamani. The spinner, who was part of the 11 in that game, was speaking about the difference between Rohit Sharma and Kohli’s captaincy when Shamani asked him if he had seen the latter cry. “I love how Rohit bhaiya carries himself on the ground. He’s a very good captain. With Virat bhaiya, it’s the energy he brings, the same energy every day. It will only go up and never down. Same energy. Every day,” Chahal said.
Shamani pointed to the recent IPL 2025 final, where after Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s win, Kohli couldn’t control his tears on TV.
“2019 World Cup, I saw him crying in the bathroom,” Chahal said. “And then I was the last batter, when I was crossing him, he had tears in his eyes. In 2019, I saw everyone crying in the bathroom.”
Kohli has had a good tournament till then but got out for 1 (6), getting LBW against Trent Boult.
‘I could have done better’: Yuzvendra Chahal
Chahal, too, has had a decent tournament, but in that game, he was India’s most expensive bowler. He conceded 63 runs in 10 overs while picking one wicket, of Kane Williamson.
He said it’s a performance he still regrets.
“It was Mahi bhai’s last match,” Chahal said ruefully. “… I could have done better. I still regret that. I could have pushed myself a bit more, bowled a bit better, and leaked 10-15 fewer runs. But sometimes you are in that flow, it happens so quickly that you don’t get time to think. I thought if I was calmer I could have done even better. I gave my best but it was the semi-final, a bigger stage and you have to give your 10-15% extra.”
Chahal is currently in England playing County Cricket as the rest of the senior side is playing Tests in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.