Virat Kohli and Novak Djokovic: Unlocking Sporting Success Through the Power of Visualisation

“When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it,” wrote Paulo Coelho in The Alchemist.

Sachin Tendulkar has echoed a similar belief: “Dreams do come true, if you chase them hard.” In sport, where the stakes are high and margins slim, this idea has a tangible expression — visualisation, or guided imagery. While speed, strength, and skill dominate the headlines, the mental side of sport is often the decisive factor between good and great. Visualisation is the art of mentally rehearsing peak performance before it happens, immersing yourself in every detail so the brain treats it as reality.

Sports psychiatrist Dr. Chinmay Patkar explains that the process works best when practised regularly under expert guidance. “Bring yourself to a calm state, block out distractions, and imagine yourself performing at your absolute best — feel the grip of the bat, the texture of the pitch, the roar of the crowd,” he says. This vivid mental simulation primes reflexes, reduces hesitation, and builds confidence.

The results are striking. After a poor tour of England in 2014, Virat Kohli visualised himself dominating Australia’s Mitchell Johnson before the next series — and went on to score a record 692 runs. Novak Djokovic mentally played out his marathon 2019 Wimbledon final win over Roger Federer before stepping on court. Conor McGregor famously envisioned — and practised — the exact punch that knocked out José Aldo in 13 seconds at UFC 194. Michael Phelps mentally swam his Olympic races thousands of times, preparing for both ideal and adverse scenarios.

Dr. Patkar notes that visualisation also sharpens reaction time — vital in high-speed sports where decisions are made in fractions of a second. But he cautions against introducing it at the last minute. “If you try something new right before a match, it can disrupt your rhythm. Start weeks ahead so you’re already in the right mental zone,” he advises.

Backed by neuroscience and years of elite sporting success, visualisation is more than positive thinking — it’s structured mental training. It helps athletes face high-pressure moments with composure, clarity, and readiness. As the examples of Kohli, Djokovic, McGregor, and Phelps show, when the mind sees victory clearly enough, the body often follows.