After his outstanding batting helped India defeat South Africa 2-1 in the ODI series on Saturday, Virat Kohli remarked that having a free mind allowed him to test boundaries.
The 37-year-old proved his durability as a top-order batsman by amassing 302 runs in three games, including two hundreds and one fifty.
In the third ODI in Visakhapatnam, Kohli finished the series with an undefeated 65 off 45 balls as India dominated their chase of 271 to win with 61 balls to spare and nine wickets in hand.
“Honestly, playing the way I have in the series is the most satisfying thing for me,” Kohli said after being named player of the series.
“I don’t think I have played at this level for a good two-three years now and I feel really free in my mind. Just the whole game is coming together nicely.”
Rolling back the years, Kohli drove and flicked with ease, hitting six fours and three sixes to tear into the opposition attack.
“When I play freely, then I know I can hit sixes,” he said.
“So, I just wanted to have some fun because I was batting well. Just push my own boundaries and see where we go, you know. There’s always levels you can unlock and you just need to take a risk.”
In the first ODI in Ranchi, Kohli scored his 52nd ODI century with a match-winning 135. He then scored 102 in the second ODI, although in a losing effort.
Following a 155-run opening partnership between Yashasvi Jaiswal, who scored an undefeated 116, and fellow stalwart Rohit Sharma, who scored 75, Kohli stepped out to bat with India on course in the decisive match. His attacking strokeplay delighted the fans, and he finished the game with two boundaries.
“I’ve tried to maintain my own standards that I have set for myself and play at the level that I can make an impact for the team,” said Kohli.
“I know when I can bat like that in the middle, it helps the team in a big way. And just being confident makes you feel any situation in the middle. I know what it takes to handle that and bring it in favour of the team.”
After retiring from Test and Twenty20 cricket, Kohli and Rohit, both 38, only play ODI cricket. The two legends have been under continual pressure to perform well and extend their careers until the 50-over World Cup in 2027. In the decisive match, the two triumphed with half-centuries once more, and Kohli stated that they had always enjoyed pressure.
“That’s what we’ve always done over so many years and that’s why we’ve been able to play for so long because we’ve always been aligned to what the team needs and what we can do with our skill sets according to the situation,” said Kohli.
“And yeah, just happy that both of us continue to do so even now and help the team.”
