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India’s designated no.3 batter, the batter with most ODI centuries, Virat Kohli is aware of where he is at whether he succeeds or fails on the field. After a 135-run knock in India’s 17-run win, a 37-year-old Kohli said that is looking to get better every day.
“For me, the core word is awareness. Being aware of situations, being aware of your own feelings and thoughts when you succeed and when you fail. So that you try to be in the most central spot," Kohli said in a video posted by BCCI on social media.
“I have put in considerable amount of work over the years, so I would say that, yes, I am in that place now. I can say that I’m still looking to get better every day of my life. That’s where I am," he added.
As India won by 17 runs, Kohli got his 44th ‘Player of the match’ award of ODI career. Kohli opened up about how he bats long in practice sessions and why he does not believe in playing preparatory games before an ODI series, indicating that he will not turn up for domestic cricket between South Africa and New Zealand white-ball series.
"If you play 300-odd ODI games and so much cricket over the last 15-16 years, as I said if you're in touch with the game and you know that when you're hitting balls at practice, your reflexes are there, your physical ability is there to bat long, if you can bat an hour and half to two hours in the nets without taking a break, you're kind of meeting all those markers. I understand if there's a dip in form, you look for games and you try to get that form back. But as long as you're hitting the ball well and you're playing good cricket, I think at this stage with the experience that I have for me, it's about being physically fit, mentally ready and excited to play the games that I'm playing, and more or less everything else should take care of itself,” Kohli said in the post-match presentation.
"I've never been a big believer of a lot of preparation. All my cricket has been mental. As long as I feel mentally I can play the game, I work physically very hard every day of my life it's got nothing to do with cricket anymore, it's just the way I live. So as long as my fitness levels are up and my enjoyment and mental sharpness is there, then you can visualise the game and you see yourself running as hard, reacting fast on the ball, then you know it's fine. [I know] one of the days when the game opens up and you get a start, you'll be able to score some runs," he added.
India’s next ODI venue and its record
For the second ODI of the series, India and South Africa will head to Raipur. Only one ODI has been played at Raipur where India defeated New Zealand by eight wickets in 2023. India bowled out New Zealand for 108. After Mohammed Shami's three-fer, Rohit Sharma scored a half-century in the run chase.
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