It hasn't been long since sports clubrooms, Facebook chat groups and pub get-togethers resembled vocal debating halls for staunch cricketing fans to rally behind the likes of Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, Kane Williamson and Joe Root in the heated debate for the best modern-day cricketer. 

But, the past couple of years surely has seen the Indian captain steering clear of his nearest rivals in that ever-competitive race.

While his exploits with the willow have often earned him plaudits from some of the biggest names in the business, Kohli's passion and dedication towards the sport, a key reason behind his meteoric rise in international cricket, has often been misunderstood. 

It's his passion for the gentleman's game that defines Kohli's emotional, effervescent and, at times, explosive character which has drawn flak as much as it has allowed him to scale new heights in the sport.

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