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India's run-machine Virat Kohli roared with the bat yet again as he struck his 45th ODI hundred in the opening match of the three-match One Day International series against Sri Lanka in Guwahati on Tuesday (January 10). Kohli, who recorded his 73rd international ton, scored 113 off 87 in India's victory which was decorated with 12 fours and one six in his blistering knock. This was Kohli's second hundred on the trot in ODIs. Kohli, who now has a staggering 73 international hundreds, is second behind Indian great Sachin Tendulkar, who ended his career with a mindboggling 100 international centuries. Kohli now has 27 Test hundreds, 45 ODI tons and one century in T20Is.
But to relish this glory, the 34-year-old had to go through a lengthened lean patch which was filled with lots of criticism, flak and backlashes.
Kohli opened up on his three-year-long lull and admitted being in a denial about his ‘vulnerabilities’ and ‘frustrations’ during that which took a heavy toll on his mental peace. At times he would turn cranky and snappy with his family and friends.
"In my case, in denial, frustration was creeping in. I was very cranky, very snappy in my space. It was not fair on (wife) Anushka (Sharma), my closed ones, its not fair on the people who support you. So I had to take responsibility and kind of put things in perspective," Kohli told teammate Suryakumar Yadav in an interview for bcci.tv.
The batting juggernaut stressed on the need to be away from his primary passion in order to rekindle it and feel hungry once again.
"I was far off from my cricket. My attachments, my desire, had totally taken over. That's when I realised that I can't be away from who I am. I have to be true to myself. Even when I am vulnerable, I am not playing well, I am the worst player around, I have to accept it. I can't be in denial," Kohli said.
Kohli also had a piece of advice for Suryakumar, who himself is in form of his life and has hogged a fair share of limelight in the T20Is.
"Sometimes what happens, you (Surya) will also experience it as you play more and more now, people look at you differently. When Surya goes out to play, people will say that Surya will do it. To keep up with it is an intense process," Kohli said.
“When your cricket is going well, all these things flow well but whenever there is a slight dip, in my case, frustration started creeping in because I wanted to play in a certain way but my cricket was not allowing me to play like before.”
"I am just happy... in the last two years I didn't have such a start," Kohli said.
"It was the first match of the year and I got a century, so hopefully, I can build on this because it is also a World Cup year and there is a big Test series coming against Australia.
“When you score runs in any match, it gives you confidence. I am happy I was able to almost bat through the innings, to give the team 20-30 extra runs with dew coming in. I am just happy and excited to play.”
"Sometimes your mindset goes up and down when you play so much, but keeping that mental freshness is helping me."
"When I returned relaxed in Asia Cup, I started enjoying training again, which is how I have always played cricket," he said.
So I would say that if you feel even a bit of desperation then take two steps back, rather pushing more and more because it will only go away from you."
Talking about the match, Team India registered an emphatic win in the first ODI against Sri Lanka at Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati. The Men in Blue defeated the Islanders by 67 runs and took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Kohli's 45th ODI ton propelled India to a daunting total of 373/7 in 50 overs after Sri Lanka elected to bowl after winning the toss. Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka (108 not out off 88 balls) smashed an entertaining century but his valiant efforts went in vain.
During his attractive knock, Shanaka powered 12 fours and three sixes and kept his sublime form against India intact. Apart from Shanaka, Pathum Shanaka (72 runs off 80 balls) could get going on a batting-friendly wicket as rest all the visiting batters either didn't get starts or the one who got starts, failed to convert it into a big score. As a result, the Islanders could only manage 306/8 in 50 overs.
Umran Malik bagged three wickets in eight overs but leaked 57 runs. Mohammed Siraj bowled exceedingly well in the powerplay overs and finished with figures of 2/30 in seven overs which also had one maiden.
Mohammed Shami, Hardik Pandya and Yuzvendra Chahal chipped in with a wicket each.
Idnia and Sri Lanka will take on each other in the second ODI on Thursday at the Eden Gardens.
