Cricket / Playing for Victory, Not Stats: Virat Kohli’s Winning Mantra

Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 28: Virat Kohli has once again underlined why he remains the talisman of Indian cricket. Speaking after his unbeaten 139 against the West Indies in the first ODI at the Greenfield International Stadium, Kohli insisted that chasing personal milestones has never been his motivation.

“Of course, I mean, if you look at it from a numbers perspective, it's a big number. But the goal is simple — to try and make the team win from difficult situations, and different situations,” he said.

The innings carried him past the 15,000‑run mark in ODIs, making him only the second player in history to achieve the feat after Sachin Tendulkar. Yet Kohli was quick to stress that longevity in international cricket comes from prioritising victories over statistics.

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“You can't play for that long for numbers because in need to get numbers, you will compromise on the main goal and you can't play for long in that manner. So I'm lucky to have been in this position for so long. Of course, a big number like that to take it off along the way to another win is quite special,” he explained in a video shared by the BCCI.

Kohli also spoke warmly about his camaraderie with captain Shubman Gill, who struck 110 in the same match.

“I've known him since the time he came into the team. I've always shared like a very free flowing and a very fun filled camaraderie with him. Now he's in a leadership position. I've been in that position for a long time and now I'm a senior player. So, when senior players or the leaders in the team are smiling, laughing, keeping the environment light, all the other players feel like, yes, there's no problem,” Kohli said.

He added that keeping the dressing room atmosphere relaxed helps younger players handle pressure.

On their batting partnerships, Kohli highlighted the ease of communication. “When you bat with a player like that, we don't talk much about the match — we talk about the other and different things because he knows what to do and I know what to do. Sometimes on the basis of experience, or in some areas, if he's trying to hit, then I can chip in and say, maybe not this, maybe this. But more interactions happen on the field while we are fielding to bounce off ideas because the captain can have a lot of stuff going on,” he explained.

Kohli praised Gill’s perspective, noting, “There's a reason why he's leading the team because he has the right perspective to look at the game in a way that he can make the team win.”

Gill, meanwhile, expressed his delight at sharing the moment when Kohli crossed 15,000 ODI runs.

“Very happy – growing up, I never thought I'll be alongside Virat bhai when he completes his 15,000 runs in ODIs. From watching him and idolising him, seeing what makes him so special and then being on the crease with him and sharing those moments, I think the journey has been great so far and hopefully it's going to be even better memories that we share,” Gill said.

He added that Kohli’s current form reflects his joy in batting. “We can all see how much Virat bhai is enjoying his batting right now and I think whether be the banter on the field or off the field, the ease and the confidence that he's batting with right now, it also translates from off field to on field.”

Together, the two batsmen not only delivered a commanding win but also showcased the blend of experience and youthful leadership that continues to drive Indian cricket forward.

(IANS)