'I had the drive but lacked professionalism' - Virat Kohli reveals the game-changing step of his career

Star India batter Virat Kohli is enjoying sensational form in the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 as he has scored 354 runs from six innings at an average of 88.50. The former India captain will be celebrating his 35^th birthday on Sunday, November 05 as India take on South Africa at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.

Notably, Kohli is just one hundred away from levelling Sachin Tendulkar’s feat of 49 ODI hundreds as he recently registered his 48^th ton against Bangladesh. The star batter is chasing glory in the ongoing World Cup and will be eager to surpass his idol’s feat in the upcoming matches. However, recently while reflecting on his career milestones Kohli revealed that he had never thought of achieving such landmarks in his career.

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“If we talk about cricket, I had never thought of achieving all, as in where my career is and how god has blessed me such a career span and performances. I had always dreamt I’d do this, but I had never thought things would pan out this way exactly, nobody can plan these things, the way your journey is going, and the way things unfold in front of you. I hadn’t thought that I’d score so many hundreds and so many runs in these 12 years,” Kohli said on Star Sports.

Further revealing the secret behind his success, the Delhi-born batter said that his focus has only been on performing well for the team and winning games from difficult situations.

The game recognises effort: Virat Kohli

“My only focus was that I should perform well for the team, and win games for the team from difficult situations. For that I made quite a few changes along the way regarding discipline and lifestyle. I always had the drive in me, but I lacked the professionalism. Now I have a single-minded focus on how I want to play the game, and after that the results I’ve achieved is from playing that way itself. The game recognises effort. Honestly, that’s what I have learnt from my career. I’ve played cricket by giving my hundred percent on the field, and the blessings I have got from it have been given to me by God, and I had never thought things would have unfolded this way,” he added.

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Notably, Kohli has 13,437 runs to his name from 287 ODIs at an average of 57.91 and a strike rate of 93.63 with 48 hundreds and 69 fifties. The Delhi-born batter will be hoping to continue his good form in the upcoming matches of the World Cup as well and help his side lift the trophy on home soil ending the 12-year wait for an ICC title.