Milestones have never been my focus: Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli became only the second batter after Sachin Tendulkar to reach 15,000 ODI runs, hitting his 55th century against West Indies.
Star Indian batter Virat Kohli has entered an elite club alongside Sachin Tendulkar by completing 15,000 runs in ODI cricket. The milestone arrived on Sunday during India's opening match against the West Indies in Thiruvananthapuram, where Kohli also struck a record-extending 55th ODI century to guide his team to victory.
Despite joining such rare company, the 37-year-old insisted that personal achievements have never driven his career. Instead, he emphasized his constant desire to adapt and elevate his performance for the collective success of the squad.
"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, achievements come along," Kohli told the broadcaster after the match.
Reflecting on his journey, the veteran cricketer expressed deep gratitude for representing his country over a long tenure. He noted that he simply keeps his head down, works hard, and appreciates the opportunities he has been given.
"Obviously, I feel very grateful and very blessed to be in this position for having played for so long. Just keeping my head down, working hard and thanking God for everything that I've been blessed with and the opportunities that I've got in my life to be where I am," Kohli stated.
Addressing a new phase in his career, Kohli highlighted the tactical challenge of increasing his aggression and batting a gear or two higher. He found working on this aggressive template to be an exciting hurdle.
Maintaining physical fitness remains a top priority for the star batter, who noted that cricket is largely a mental game at this level. In response to a query from former India coach Ravi Shastri, Kohli mentioned he has never relied on excessive practice sessions.
"For me it's about staying mentally fresh, staying in the present moment and just expressing myself really out there to play in a certain way, get used to this template more often," Kohli concluded.