After delivering a dominant performance with the bat, Virat Kohli offered a few direct statements and several subtle messages. Speculation that senior players — specifically Kohli and Rohit Sharma — were being persuaded by the BCCI to reconsider their Test retirements turned out to be nothing more than hopeful chatter. Kohli firmly stated that he intends to continue as a one-format player, sticking to ODIs alone.
He also indirectly addressed the ongoing questions surrounding him. Will he appear for Delhi in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, as the selectors reportedly want? Can someone living in London simply walk into the Indian team without domestic game time? His remarks hinted at the answers, and those reading between the lines would have caught them.
“I’ve never been someone who believes in doing a lot of preparation, if that makes sense. My cricket has always been more about the mind. As long as I’m mentally in the right place, I can play,” Kohli told the broadcasters after receiving the Player of the Match award.
If preparation isn’t central to his approach, would playing domestic ODIs for Delhi truly benefit him or help him shed any supposed rust?
Kohli also offered a glimpse into life abroad.
“I train physically every single day. It’s not about cricket anymore — it’s just how I live. As long as my fitness is high and my mind is sharp, when I can visualize the game clearly and see myself sprinting and reacting quickly, I know everything’s fine,” he said.
On Sunday, his 135 off 120 balls showed that net practice in England combined with mental rehearsal had kept him fully match-ready.
His sharp reflexes and electric running between the wickets reminded fans of the young teenager who captained India to the U-19 World Cup. But will this continue until the 2027 World Cup? Or will the selectors pushing for domestic cricket reconsider their stance?
Staying sharp
Kohli consistently emphasised that he knows what works best for him. Harsha Bhogle asked, “How do you make sure you’re playing enough cricket to come out and deliver like this?”
“I’ve played 300-plus ODIs and so much cricket in the last 15–16 years. If you can bat for 90 minutes or two hours in the nets without stopping, you’re ticking all the boxes. I understand that if you’re out of form, you look for matches to regain rhythm,” Kohli explained.
Judging from how he constructed his innings and placed his shots, there were absolutely no signs of a form slump.
“As long as you’re striking the ball well and playing quality cricket, at this stage of my career, it’s mainly about staying fit, mentally prepared, and excited to take the field. The rest follows naturally,” he said.
Kohli echoed what he had said during the last IPL — that he is enjoying the sport more because he has rediscovered the simple joy of striking the ball.
“Today felt great to get into the game like that. The pitch was good for the first 20–25 overs before slowing down. So I just thought, ‘Let me go out there, hit the ball, and not overthink anything.’ It’s just me and the ball, enjoying cricket,” he said.
Kohli stressed that whenever he turns up to play, he gives “120 percent”. He had even reached Ranchi a few days early to get a feel for the conditions. But he also acknowledged the physical challenges of international cricket at 37.
“I took a day off before the match because I’m 37. I need to manage recovery too.”
Bhogle joked that Kohli was making 37 sound young. Kohli laughed in response — a laugh that felt like the last word.
