"I've still got it, I guess," declared Virat Kohli, underlining his T20 prowess, refusing to be merely the iconic figure associated with promoting the game. This assertion comes just two months ahead of cricket's foray into uncharted territory with the T20 World Cup set to take place in the USA.
Returning after a two-month hiatus following the birth of his second child, Kohli displayed his dominance with a commanding 77 off 49 balls for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Punjab Kings, earning him the well-deserved Player of the Match accolade.
Acknowledging his dual role as both player and ambassador, Kohli, now 35, expressed, "I know my name is nowadays quite attached to just promoting the game in many parts of the world when it comes to T20 cricket. But, I've still got it, I guess,"
The hallmark of Kohli's masterful innings was his adept footwork to dispatch fast bowlers over the extra cover boundary, showcasing his adaptability to the evolving demands of the T20 format. While the former Indian skipper acknowledges he has nothing left to prove, he stresses the importance of continuous evolution in T20 cricket.
His remarks come amidst ongoing speculation surrounding team selection for the upcoming event jointly hosted by the USA and the West Indies.
"Well I mean you have to (make additions to your game)," Kohli emphasized, reflecting on his strategy against pacers on the off-side.
"People know I play the cover drive pretty well so they're not going to allow me to hit gaps and with guys like KG (Kagiso Rabada) and Arshdeep (Singh) as well, he's tall. So, I mean, if they're hitting length, you have to create some momentum in the ball.
"And once you're closer to the ball, you kind of negate the bounce that's going to happen. You meet it earlier. So, I mean, you have to come up with a game plan here and there and try to keep improving your game," he explained at the post-match presentation.
Reflecting on his hiatus, Kohli expressed gratitude for the anonymity he experienced during his break, cherishing the normalcy of everyday life with his family.
"We were not in the country. We were at a place where people were not recognising us. Just time together as a family, just to feel normal for two months. For me, for us as a family, it was a surreal experience.
"Of course, having two kids, things become totally different from a family perspective. So just the ability to be together, the connections that you make with your older child, it's amazing.
"I mean, I couldn't have been more grateful to God for the opportunity that I got to spend time with my family."
Kohli also expressed appreciation for the unwavering support of Royal Challengers Bangalore fans, "And yeah, just the place that we were in, I was telling the guys (RCB teammates) that when we came back, the voices back home felt that much louder.
"I couldn't look up because I was just not used to being called my name for two months. And then immediately you hear these loud noises and then you're back in it all again.
"But it was beautiful. It's an amazing experience to just be another person on the road and not be recognised and just carry on about life that normally people would on a daily basis," he said.
"And yeah, just the place that we were in, I was telling the guys (RCB teammates) that when we came back, the voices back home felt that much louder.
"I couldn't look up because I was just not used to being called my name for two months. And then immediately you hear these loud noises and then you're back in it all again.
"But it was beautiful. It's an amazing experience to just be another person on the road and not be recognised and just carry on about life that normally people would on a daily basis," he said.
Kohli is also forever grateful to the loyal and passionate RCB fans who keep backing the team that is yet to win the IPL.
"It's been going on for years and you know, people talk about a lot of other things when you play sport. The achievements, the stats, the numbers. Look at the end of the day when you look back you're not going to think of the numbers and the stats.
"It's the memories that you create. Famously, Rahul bhai (India head coach) in the change room nowadays says exactly the same to us. When you play, you play your heart out because you're going to miss these times when you're with your friends in the change room playing in front of fans.
"So the relationship that's happened organically over so many years it's something that I can never ever forget. Just the love and the appreciation and the backing I've received for so many years that's been amazing," Kohli added.
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