'If I need to prove my worth and my value, I'm not...': Virat Kohli's no-nonsense take on retirement talks

Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) star batter Virat Kohli in his his recent statement has brushed aside the scrutiny around being non-committal. The 37-year-old who hit a century in his previous game against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to become the first and fastest Indian player to 14000 T20 runs did not hold back while addressing the uncertainty around his future in cricket.

There has been quite a buzz around former RCB skipper's retirement for a while now, as he only plays the single format (ODIs) of the game internationally after retiring from T20Is and Tests. If his recent statement is taken under consideration, then he's not retiring from ODIs anytime soon and is eyeing the 2027 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup.

Virat Kohli addresses the elephant in the room

Taking the notice of the growing speculation around his ODI future, Kohli stated in a straight response that he is he no longer feels the need to constantly justify his place or prove how valuable he is. He said that if a team environment trusts his ability and believes he can contribute positively, he will naturally give his best and perform. However, if he is put in a situation where he has to repeatedly prove his worth despite everything he has achieved, then that is not an environment he wants to be in.

"If I can add value to the environment that I am a part of and the environment feels like I can add value, I will be seen. If I am made to feel like I need to prove my worth and my value, I'm not in that space. Because I am being honest to my preparation, said Virat Kohli during the RCB podcast."

"I am being honest to how I approach the game. I put my head down. I work hard. I am very thankful to God for giving me everything that I have been given in my cricketing career. And I feel very blessed and grateful for the opportunity. And when I arrive to play, I put my head down. After operating like this, if I have to be in a place where I have to prove my worth and value, that place is not meant to be for me," he added.

How Kohli performed this IPL season

The RCB stalwart is enjoying yet another sensational season, having already amassed 484 runs in 12 matches and edging closer to another 500-plus campaign. He has registered three half-centuries and a century while maintaining a stunning strike rate of 166 and an average of nearly 54.

During the season, Virat Kohli also achieved two major milestones — becoming the first batter in IPL history to cross 9000 runs and drawing level with Rohit Sharma as the joint most-capped player in the tournament.