Bloomsbury India launched Vijay Lokapally’s book ‘Driven: The Virat Kohli Story’ , in the presence of Virat Kohli, Virender Sehwag, Kapil Dev, Anil Kumble and Ravi Shastri at ITC Maurya, New Delhi, in association with Grover Zampa. Virat’s coach Raj Kumar Sharma was also present on the occasion.
Driven is a celebration of Virat Kohli, the undisputed monarch of the cricket world today, and introduces readers to the man not known to many. At 27, he has already been the recipient of countless accolades including the Arjuna Award, the title of BCCI’s ‘International Cricketer of the Year’ as well as the ICC’s ‘ODI Player of the Year’.
Unveiling the book at the event, Virat Kohli said, “I am humbled by the fact that Vijay Sir wrote a book about me and grateful for the support of my family, friends, mentors, teammates and the wider cricketing community who taught me how to believe in myself. This book is as much about them as it is about me.”
Author Vijay Lokapally said, “I have tried to put in front the reader the story of the making of Virat. There are some anecdotes which bring out the amazing cricketer that he is, a wonderful friend in the dressing room, and most importantly, an icon who speaks up for gender equality, safety of senior citizens and many social issues, as an important citizen of the country.”
Added Rajiv Beri, Managing Director, Bloomsbury India, “Cricket is a subject that has always been of great importance to Bloomsbury and I am proud that we can carry the torch forward with Driven. This book is an ode to cricket as much as it is an ode to Virat Kohli.”
In Driven, widely travelled sports journalist Vijay Lokapally recounts life-altering tales and happier times on the journey of Virat’s rapid rise to international stardom, an account punctuated with little-known stories by his fellow players, coaches and intimates.
“Cricketers have come and gone, but only a handful make their way into our hearts. They make you re-imagine the possibilities of the game and charm you with their astonishing abilities. It is left to us to wonder whether we enjoy only their presence, or see a legend in them, that will become indelibly etched in the history of the game. I can see Virat growing into a legend. He has the potential for becoming a benchmark for future cricketers.” Concludes Ravi Shastri in his foreword for Driven.
The event was attended by prominent figures from the cricketing industry such as Ashish Nehra, Ajay Jadeja, Karthik Murali, Hari Gidwani and Anjum Chopra.