India’s recent 2–1 ODI series victory over South Africa was defined by several eye-catching performances, but none shone brighter than the brilliance of Virat Kohli. The Indian icon delivered masterclass performances, maintaining consistency. Over the course of three matches, Kohli amassed a staggering 302 runs, finishing as the series’ leading scorer and claiming the Player of the Series award. The series will also be remembered for his back-to-back centuries and an unbeaten 65 in the final game on Saturday.
“Honestly, just playing the way I have in this series has been the most satisfying thing for me. I don't think I have played at this level for a good 2-3 years now, and I feel really free in my mind. Just the whole game is coming together nicely," Kohli said at the post-match presentation.
“Very exciting to build on. And something that I have always tried to do as a player, kind of maintain my own standards that I have set for myself and play at the level that I can make an impact for the team."
“And I know when I can bat like that out there in the middle, then it of course helps the team in a big way because I can bat long, I can bat according to the situation. Just being confident makes me feel like any situation out there in the middle, I have what it takes to handle that situation and bring it in favour of the team," Kohli said.
The hallmark of Kohli’s batting throughout the series was his ability to score freely, as his innings featured a record 12 sixes across the three ODIs.
"Well, you know, when I play freely then I know I can hit sixes. So I just wanted to have some fun because I was batting well, just take a bit more risk, just push my own boundaries and see where I go. There's always levels you can unlock and you just need to take a risk," he said.