Since returning to competitive action in October, Virat Kohli has scored 616 runs in nine matches, striking three centuries and as many fifties. When his comeback began with back-to-back ducks in Australia, his hunger and preparation were questioned. But Kohli has let his bat do the talking, vaulting back to the No. 1 spot in the ICC ODI rankings after a gap of four years.
On Sunday, former New Zealand fast bowler Simon Doull joined the chorus of praise, marvelling at Kohli’s hunger and determination at the age of 37, and suggesting that the former India captain could continue playing cricket at the highest level for another eight years.
“Some of the shots were just crisp and clean. Beyond that, it’s how he manoeuvres the field and how he runs between the wickets. There’s still an air of youth about him. Despite his age and experience, he’d probably still be the fittest guy on that side. That’s professionalism,” Doull told JioHotstar.
“The willingness to keep trying to win games, to drag your team back into the contest when they’re so far behind, and to run as hard as he does, for his own runs and for his teammates. There’s so much to love about how he’s playing at the moment. May he stick around in international cricket until he’s 44 or 45 years old,” he added.
On Sunday, Kohli looked dialled in from the moment he walked out to bat. He began with a pull shot that sailed over the boundary rope and continued to keep the scoreboard ticking despite losing partners at regular intervals.
