Virat Kohli changed with fame and power of captaincy, has few friends in team. Rohit Sharma still the same: Amit Mishra

Veteran India bowler Amit Mishra has spoken in depth about his relationships with Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma and how the two are poles apart from each other.

Amit Mishra, the veteran spinner, has made certain explosive revelations about his India teammate Virat Kohli, noticing a difference in his behavioural pattern after becoming captain. Mishra, who played a bit under Kohli's captaincy between 2015/2017, while explaining the difference between Kohli and Rohit Sharma, pointed out how one changed with circumstances, while the other remained the same since day one.

Veteran India spinner Amit Mishra has explained the difference in the attitudes of Virat Kohli (L) and Rohit Sharma(ANI)

Kohli and Rohit started their India careers barely a year after the other, and over the next decade and a half, would go on to become the backbone of the Indian batting line-up. Having been through multiple heartbreaks, they finally won the big one together – a T20 World Cup – and even retired from T20Is on the same day. But while similarities galore in terms of batting stardom and fanbases, Mishra shares contrasting relations with the two superstars of Indian cricket.

Speaking about his equation with Rohit, Mishra mentioned that he and the current India captain enjoy a very jovial and friendly bond going back to the latter's early days in cricket, but does not expect the same from Kohli. Mishra also revealed that due to Kohli's change in nature, he is left with fewer friends in the Indian team.

"Not everyone to be very honest," Mishra told YouTuber Shubhankar Mishra on his show when asked if players have the same level of respect as they do for Sachin Tendulkar or MS Dhoni. "I won't lie. As a cricketer, I respect him a lot, but I don't share the same equation with him as I used to. Why does Virat have less friends? His and Rohit's natures are different. I'll tell you the best thing about Rohit. When I met him the first day and when I meet him today, he is the same person. So will you relate to him more or with someone who changes according to situation?

"I haven't been part of the Indian team in years. Still when I meet Rohit during the IPL or any other event, he is always joking with me. I don't need to think what he will think. We joke with each other. He is at the top but we still have maintained that rapport. He is the captain, won the World Cup and five IPL titles."

Virat and I almost stopped talking: Mishra

Mishra, who made his debut in 2008, played 22 Tests for India, nine of which came under Kohli, including his last one. During this time, Mishra took 33 wickets, but the leg-spinner rued that his equation with Kohli took a hit with time, to the extent that they almost stopped talking. Yuvraj Singh, the two-time World Cup winner for India, had previously spoken about how he used to be friends with 'Cheeku', the young Kohli, but couldn't continue the same bond Virat Kohli the star. Echoing the same sentiments, Mishra pointed out something similar: the 'huge difference' in Kohli's attitude when he became the captain and the success that followed.

"I have seen Virat change a lot. We had almost stopped talking. When you get fame and power, they think people are reaching out to them for a purpose. I was never one of those. I have known Cheeku since the time he was 14, when he used to eat Samosas, when he needed Pizza every night. But there is a huge difference in the Cheeku I knew and Virat Kohli the captain. Whenever he meets me, he is very respectful, but it's obviously not the same anymore," added Mishra.