Only Dhoni messaged me after I quit Test captaincy: Kohli

After scoring another half century in the Asia Cup match against Pakistan, Virat Kohli spoke about his respect for former captain M. S. Dhoni for reaching out to him after Kohli stepped down as Test captain in January

Virat Kohli has revealed that Mahendra Singh Dhoni was the only person, who 'messaged' him after he unexpectedly stepped down as Test captain following the series loss in South Africa as the former skipper took a dig at "people" who talk on TV but did not reach out to him to help.

Kohli had quit T20 captaincy as well but the ODI leadership was taken away from him. However, India's most successful captain relinquishing Test leadership in January caught the cricketing world by surprise.

Speaking to media on a rather eventful last 12 months when he was also criticised for his form, Kohli talked about Dhoni's phone call and the bond that they share.

"One thing I can tell you is when I gave up Test captaincy, I got a message from only one person who I've played with before — M. S. Dhoni," said Kohli after India's narrow loss to Pakistan in Asia Cup on Sunday.

"A lot of people have my number and a lot of people give suggestions on TV, but among people who have my number, I didn't get a message from anyone else," he said.

After a prolonged lean patch, the former captain has found form in the Asia Cup and struck his second successive half-century on Sunday.

Kohli has immense respect for his 'first captain' Dhoni and it was evident in his response.