Virat Kohli Reveals Emotional Reason He Listens to Karan Aujla’s ‘Winning Speech’ Before Every Match

It is a few minutes before a big cricket match. The stadium is filling up. Fans are chanting. The air is electric. But inside the dressing room, Virat Kohli sits alone. He puts on his headphones. He closes his eyes. He presses play.

The song that fills his ears is not a typical pump-up track. It is Karan Aujla’s “Winning Speech.” For Kohli, this song is much more than a beat to get him ready. It is a bridge to someone he lost too soon: his father.

Kohli recently opened up about this emotional ritual in an interview. He talked about how the song takes him back to his childhood. It reminds him of his dad, Prem Kohli, who passed away when Virat was just 18 years old. This revelation gave fans a rare glimpse into the private world of one of cricket’s biggest stars.

Virat Kohli’s Pre-Match Ritual with ‘Winning Speech’

Ask any athlete about their pre-game routine, and you will hear stories of superstitions and habits. Some listen to loud rock music. Others prefer silence. For Virat Kohli, it is Karan Aujla’s “Winning Speech.”

Kohli has been playing international cricket for nearly two decades. He has faced the best bowlers in the world and scored runs in every condition. But the nerves never go away. That is where the song comes in.

“I listen to it before every match,” Kohli said in a recent interview. “It calms me down. It reminds me of my father.”

The song’s lyrics are about overcoming obstacles and achieving greatness. It is a motivational anthem. But for Kohli, the meaning goes deeper. The melody, the words, and the emotion in Aujla’s voice all connect to the most important man in his life.

Kohli has spoken before about how his father’s death shaped him. He was playing for Delhi in a Ranji Trophy match when he got the news that his father had suffered a stroke. Kohli left the game and rushed to the hospital. His father died that night. The next day, Kohli returned to the field and scored a crucial century. That match is often talked about as a turning point in his career, showing his mental strength.

Now, more than a decade later, he still carries that memory. And “Winning Speech” helps him tap into that strength.

The Emotional Connection to ‘Winning Speech’

“Winning Speech” is not just any Punjabi pop song. It was released by Karan Aujla in 2023 and quickly became a hit with millions of streams. Its message is universal: keep fighting, never give up, and one day you will have your winning speech.

Kohli says that the song reminds him of his father’s advice. His dad was a criminal lawyer who worked hard to support the family. He believed in discipline and hard work, values that stuck with Kohli.

“My father taught me that life is about facing challenges,” Kohli once said. “He never let me quit anything.”

That lesson echoes in the lyrics of “Winning Speech.” The song talks about rising from the bottom, proving doubters wrong, and the moment you finally get to speak your truth.

For Kohli, that moment comes every time he walks onto the field. Every innings is a chance to honor his father’s memory. Every run is a step in a journey they started together.

The song’s emotional weight is not lost on Karan Aujla. When he heard that Kohli used his music as a pre-match ritual, he was deeply moved. “It means the world to me,” Aujla said in an interview. “Virat is someone I look up to. To know that my song helps him, it is incredible.”

From Fan to Friend: Kohli and Aujla’s Bond

It is not just the song; Kohli and Aujla share a genuine friendship, which started with Kohli being a fan.

Kohli revealed that he had been listening to Aujla’s music long before they met. He was drawn to the raw energy in Aujla’s voice and found the lyrics spoke to him. The beats made him feel alive.

“I was a fan before I became his friend,” Kohli admitted. “I used to listen to his songs in the gym, on the field, everywhere.”

Their first meeting happened a few years ago when Aujla was performing at an event. Kohli went backstage to say hello, and they hit it off immediately. Both are Punjabis, come from humble beginnings, and know what it takes to reach the top.

Since then, they have stayed in touch, supporting each other’s work. Aujla has attended cricket matches to watch Kohli play, and Kohli has promoted Aujla’s music on social media.

The friendship is a reminder that stars are people too. They have heroes outside their own field and find inspiration in unexpected places.

The Father Figure Who Shaped a Legend

To understand why “Winning Speech” means so much to Kohli, you have to understand the role his father played in his life.

Prem Kohli was a middle-class lawyer in Delhi who had big dreams for his son. He saw Virat’s talent early on, drove him to practice every day, and stood behind the nets watching his son bat for hours.

“My father never pushed me,” Kohli has said. “He supported me. He gave me the freedom to choose my path.”

When Kohli was selected for the Delhi under-15 team, his father was the proudest man. He believed his son would play for India one day and did not live to see that day, but his belief never faded.

Kohli’s father died in December 2006 when Kohli was 18. The loss hit him hard, and for a while, cricket lost its joy. But then he remembered his father’s words: “Don’t let anything stop you.”

That is when Kohli decided to make his father proud. Every match became a tribute, and every century was a thank-you note.

Today, Kohli often talks about his father in interviews, keeping his memory alive. Songs like “Winning Speech” become the soundtrack to that memory.

Music as Motivation: Why Athletes Turn to Lyrics

Kohli is not the only athlete who uses music to prepare for a big moment. Many sports stars have their own playlists.

LeBron James listens to hip-hop before NBA games, Serena Williams has her go-to songs for focus, and soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo often posts videos of himself listening to music in the locker room.

Science backs this up. Studies show that music can lower anxiety and increase performance. The right song can put an athlete in the zone, blocking out noise and sharpening focus.

But the connection is more than just mental. Music triggers memories and evokes emotions. For Kohli, “Winning Speech” brings back his father’s voice and the feeling of being a kid with a dream.

“When I hear that song, I feel like my father is with me,” Kohli said. “It gives me peace.”

This is why athletes often turn to music. It is a tool, but it is also a comfort. In a world of high pressure and constant scrutiny, a familiar melody can be a safe place.

Fans React to Virat Kohli’s Emotional Revelation

When Kohli’s revelation made headlines, fans took to social media to share their reactions. The story touched a nerve.

Many people said they now understand why Kohli plays with such intensity. “Every innings is for his dad,” one fan wrote on Twitter. “This makes me respect him even more.”

Others shared their own stories of losing a parent and finding comfort in music. The conversation became a space for collective healing.

“I lost my father when I was 16,” a fan commented on Instagram. “Songs remind me of him too. Thank you, Virat, for being so honest.”

The news also brought attention to Karan Aujla’s music. Fans who had never listened to Punjabi songs started streaming “Winning Speech.” The song’s already impressive numbers grew even higher.

Some fans joked that Kohli’s pre-match ritual should include a dance move. Others praised him for showing vulnerability. “It takes courage to share something so personal,” one user said.

Kohli’s Mindset: Turning Grief into Strength

In professional sports, athletes are often seen as machines, expected to be strong, focused, and unbreakable. But Kohli’s openness shows a different side.

He is human. He feels loss. He holds onto memories. And he uses those emotions to fuel his performance.

This revelation is not just about a song. It is about how Kohli processes grief. He does not run away from the pain; he leans into it and turns it into strength.

That is the mark of a true champion: not just the ability to score runs or win matches, but the ability to keep going when life knocks you down.

Kohli’s father may be gone, but his lessons live on. Every time “Winning Speech” plays, Kohli remembers what his dad taught him: never give up.

So the next time you see Kohli walk out to bat, think about the song playing in his ears. Think about the man behind the headphones. Know that every run he scores is part of a bigger story: a story of love, loss, and a promise kept.