Virat Kohli on playing for India: The Indian captain spoke about the honour of playing for India, taking more responsibility and other things.
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Having become the fastest cricketer ever to score 10,000 ODI runs, Indian captain Virat Kohli once again insisted on the fact that ‘these things do not matter much’ to him. For an individual to achieve new milestones day in and day out without worrying an iota about them is humanly unbelievable.
Perhaps, it is this quality of Kohli to always play for the team which brings out the best from him. In an interview with BCCI.TV after achieving the milestone, Kohli said that he loves the sport and playing it at the highest level for 10 years is something special for him.
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“I feel really grateful, I feel really blessed. I never imagined I’d get to see this stage in my one-day career. I am really thankful to god. These [records] things do not matter much, but to understand you have come this far in your career, playing for 10 years, is something quite special to me.
“I love the sport so much and you want to play it more and more, and that for me is the most important thing. I am just happy that I have been able to play for this long and hopefully, for many more years to come,” he was quoted.
Playing his first match for India against Sri Lanka in 2008, Kohli had never thought of reaching at this stage of his career. He termed his achievements as ‘byproducts’ of him focusing on the right things over the years.
As a leader of the side, Kohli is someone who readily takes the responsibility as and when the team requires. With consistency at the helm, he seldom takes the opportunity to bat for India lightly. On being asked about scoring the last 1,000 ODI runs in a mere 11 innings, Kohli said that it was because he wanted to take more responsibility in the middle.
“Out of the last 11 innings, about eight or nine have been away from home. It’s only to do with the understanding that in South Africa and England we had tough series, so I wanted to take more responsibility and lead from the front if possible and think of the team all the time. I have been able to push my physical and mental abilities by just focusing on what the team needs. In that process, more runs have been scored than may be otherwise if I was thinking about my batting. I just focused on the situation and I am glad that I have been able to help the team by contributing with the bat,” 29-year old Kohli said.
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“It is again focusing on what the team needs and what a situation demands. All these things look good from the outside as a package, but from the inside as a player, you know you are always focused on your process. The most important thing is pushing hard for the team when you are down and out and pushing for those 10-12 extra overs, so the team can benefit from it,” he further said.
Talking about his intensity and commitment on the field, Kohli said that he doesn’t feel he is entitled to anything here. He termed all these unimaginable feats as ‘part of his job’.
“It is a great honour to represent my country. Even after 10 years, I don’t feel I am entitled to anything here. You still have to work hard for every run you score at the international level for your country. You should never take things for granted and never take it easy at any stage,” he added.
“If I have to dive six times in an over, I will do it for the team. That is my duty and that is why I am selected to play for my country and that is a part of my job. It is not about doing anyone a favour or not showing anyone you are committed,” he concluded.
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