Virat Kohli holding a news conference was everyone's breath of fresh air for the first time since resigning as India's captain in all forms. To everyone's astonishment, Kohli showed up at the press conference not long after Pakistan defeated India by five wickets in the Super 4 game of the Asia Cup 2022. The series loss in South Africa was Kohli's only public statement regarding his desire to resign from the job. Kohli, India's most successful Test captain, had otherwise avoided speaking to the media. Finally, after stepping down as India's Test captain in January, Kohli did provide some additional insight on Sunday.
Over the past few months, there has been a lot of talk regarding Kohli. Kohli has experienced everything, from resigning as India's captain to struggling with his performance. Before deciding to take a hiatus, the top Indian batsman struggled in both the IPL and England. And judging from what the world has witnessed so far since his return to first-class cricket, Kohli appears to be gradually regaining the touch that made him a force to be reckoned with. When asked about how he felt about all the noises he heard from outside, the former India skipper made a statement that equally astounded all journalists and reporters. Kohli has spoken, if sparingly, about the mindset he was in during the current lean spell.
"I can tell you one thing. And that is when I left Test captaincy, I got a message from only one person with whom I had played earlier, and that is MS Dhoni. This is when many people had my number. A lot of people gave suggestions on TV, and they have a lot to say but all those who had my number, no one messaged me. So the thing is, when there is respect, when you have a connection such as this, it shows, because there is security both ways. I don't want anything from him and neither does he. I have never been insecure of him and neither has he," Kohli said during the PC.
"All I can say is that if I have to say something about someone, I reach out to him individually. If you give suggestions in front of the world, there is no value to it as per me because if it means to me and for my improvement, you can reach out to me one on one as well, like 'I genuinely want that you do well'. I live with a lot of honesty, so I can see these things. I won't say that it doesn't matter to me, but I can see the truth. That is the way I live."
This appears to end the uncertainty around Kohli's unexpected yet touching homage to Dhoni prior to the Asia Cup. Kohli has so far checked all the appropriate boxes since his return. In India's Asia Cup opener against Pakistan, he made a significant 35, and in the two games that followed, he hit back-to-back half-centuries, this time against Pakistan and Hong Kong. In fact, Kohli's 60 off 44 balls was his most convincing innings of the Asia Cup, as evidenced by the fact that he kissed the India badge on his shirt after making it to the fifth wicket off 36 balls with a six.
Back in form, Kohli responded to his detractors in a roundabout way, claiming that if anyone cared about him in general, they would have gotten in touch with him rather than publicly criticising his play.
"I've played for 14 years, it doesn't happen by chance. My job is to work hard on my game, something that I am always keen to do for the team and something that I continue to do. Everyone's doing their job eventually, our job is to play the game, work hard, give our 120 percent and I've said it in the past that as long as I am doing that and the team has faith in that, what happens in the change room is the only thing that matters to us, and to me personally," he said.
"People have their opinions and that's absolutely fine but that doesn't change my happiness as a person. I've taken some time away, put things in perspective. It's given me kind of a relaxation that this is not the be-all and end-all of life. I need to enjoy the game, I can't put so much pressure or expectation on myself, that I am not able to express myself. That is not why I started playing this game.
Kohli acknowledged not picking up the bat while he was away from the game before the Asia Cup. Kohli made a shocking admission that caught everyone off guard: for the first time in a long time, there were days when he did not feel like working out or practising. But now that he has rejoined the squad after a six-week absence, Kohli is revitalised, rejuvenated, and on the rise.
"I was able to find that excitement back. And when I came here, the environment was very welcoming, the camaraderie with the boys is amazing, the environment in the team is amazing. I am absolutely loving playing at the moment again and I am feeling good with the way I am batting," he said.
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