Virat Kohli’s batting masterclass was on full display in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday, where he notched up an explosive innings against the West Indies in the first ODI and claimed another extraordinary milestone in his ODI career. Kohli went past the 15,000-run mark in ODIs, becoming only the second batter after Sachin Tendulkar to accomplish the landmark. He also brought up his 55th ODI century, helping India chase a 296-run target in spectacular fashion. From the outset, Kohli maintained an aggressive approach, smashing nine sixes, the highest number he has hit in a single ODI innings, along with 10 fours.
"My focus has never really been on these milestones, so to say. It's just understanding the situation along the course of just doing the job for the team, whatever, you know. Achievements come along, obviously I feel very grateful and very blessed to be in this position for having played for so long. And, yeah, just keeping my head down, working hard and thanking God for everything that I've been blessed with,” Kohli said at the post-match presentation.
For much of Kohli’s ODI career, his game has been built around control and gradually constructing his innings. Talking about his approach after his knock against West Indies, Kohli said that there is a different mind game at this stage of his career.
“I think just the understanding of your game also at the stage that I am at, just keeping myself physically very fit. I have never been a guy who practised a lot even when I was playing all three formats. It is about staying fresh, staying in the present moment and just expressing myself really out there to play in a certain way and get used to this template more often. I got a challenge at this stage of my career to kind of up the ante and, you know, play a gear to higher end. Yeah, that was exciting for me to work on. Again, it excites you when you have to unlock a new version at this stage of your career, which will eventually help, you know, any team that you play for, be it playing for India or in the IPL. It's really helped me a lot to play with a free mind, and I think that's what's working for me,” he said.
"I think to follow a free mind, you need a fit body. So for me, it works the other way around. I stay physically fit and then I'm able to visualise the game in the way that I want to play, which allows me the best chance to go out there and execute in the way that I did tonight."
Kohli also spoke about his mindset that keeps him motivated.
“I am just very happy and grateful. I think the only thing we need to do is just look back one step, you know, where we came from. That's something that we tend to forget when we are caught up with, you know, the hustle of the world and the positions we get into with so much attention and fame and, you know, so much love from the fans. It can be very easy to forget where you came from. But I think just looking back at the journey from when you started as a child just makes you feel grateful.”
"I enjoy each and every minute that I'm out there playing for India because I understand that, as I said, you know, it could have been a possibility that I wouldn't be standing here. I wouldn't have played for India at all. That could have been my reality as well. But I'm getting to live all these amazing moments, representing my country, playing in front of such big crowds and doing the job for the team. As a cricket player, this is all that I dreamt of, and I'm getting it. So I have nothing but gratitude in my heart. And as I said, I just want to put my head down, keep working hard, put a smile on my face and hopefully make other people smile too,” Kohli added.