In the world of cricket, legends come and go, but a few leave an indelible mark on the game. Recently, we have witnessed the retirements of cricket greats like Michael Clarke, Shane Bond, Shane Watson, Kieron Pollard, Alex Hales, and Steven Finn, all of whom bid farewell to the game on the age of 34. However, amidst this wave of farewells, Virat Kohli, the previous Indian cricket team captain, stands as a stark comparison. At 34, in place of contemplating retirement, Kohli is gearing up to steer India’s price in the upcoming ICC World Cup.
Virat Kohli, frequently called the “Run Machine” and rightly so, has finished nearly the whole lot that international cricket has to offer. He remains the linchpin of the Indian batting lineup across all codecs. His current performance, which includes a record-breaking century in opposition to Pakistan inside the Asia Cup, underscores his enduring brilliance. This lovely feat not handiest solidified his popularity as one of the greatest cricketers however also helped India clinch the Asia Cup title, setting the stage for the imminent World Cup.
After being rested for the initial two matches of the three-match Australia series, Kohli is set to return to the One Day International (ODI) format in India’s final 50-over encounter before the ICC World Cup 2023.
Legendary South African cricketer AB de Villiers, known as “ABD,” shared his insights on Kohli’s future. De Villiers, who played alongside Kohli for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the Indian Premier League (IPL), believes that Kohli might consider stepping away from the ODI format if India wins the World Cup. He expressed, “I know he loves travelling to South Africa (for the 2027 World Cup), but it’s very difficult to say. It is a long time away. Let’s focus on this one first, I think that’s what Virat Kohli would tell you.”
De Villiers further elaborated, “If they win this World Cup, it might not be a bad time to say, ‘Thank you very much. I am maybe just going to play Test cricket for the next few years and a little bit of IPL, enjoy the last bit of my career, have enough family time, and say goodbye to everyone.”
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Kohli’s career has been nothing short of spectacular. He even shattered Sachin Tendulkar’s world record with his brilliant century against Pakistan in the Asia Cup. Over the years, Kohli, a veteran batter, has shattered numerous batting records set by the Master Blaster himself. Notably, he’s just two centuries away from surpassing Tendulkar’s record tally of ODI tons. Tendulkar remains the only player in history to score 100 centuries in international cricket.
Despite the numerous personal records within reach, De Villiers believes that individual achievements are not Kohli’s primary focus. “I don’t think that is his focus. That is not his main drive. He has never been all about myself kind of a guy. He wants to win World Cups for his team and be part of a successful unit in all formats of the game,” De Villiers added.
Virat Kohli’s career stands out not only for his incredible records and performances but also for his unwavering commitment to team success.
