India batting stalwart Virat Kohli said on Sunday that his remarkable journey so far has been nothing short of a dream come true, as he is able to “bring so much happiness and smiles to so many people” through his sport. The 37-year-old Kohli reached yet another milestone during the first ODI against New Zealand, becoming the fastest player to score 28,000 runs across formats in international cricket and the second-highest run-scorer after Sachin Tendulkar.
Playing in his 624th innings, Virat Kohli became the fastest player to score 28,000 runs across formats in international cricket, hitting a four off New Zealand leg-spinner Adithya Ashok during the first ODI. Sachin Tendulkar reached the milestone in his 644th innings, while Sri Lankan legend Kumar Sangakkara, the third player to cross 28,000 runs, did so in 666 innings.
Reflecting on his journey, the 37-year-old said, “Honestly, if I look back at my whole journey, it’s nothing short of a dream come true. I’ve always known my abilities, but I had to work hard to get to where I am today. God has blessed me with so much, and I feel nothing but gratitude and pride.”
Kohli, named Player of the Match for the 45th time in his career, added, “I feel blessed to be in this position. You can bring so much happiness to so many people just by doing what you love. I’m literally living my dream and seeing people smile because of it.”
About his innings of 93 off 91 balls that helped India chase down the total, Kohli said, “Honestly, I wasn’t thinking about milestones. I had to adapt to the situation on the field. When I walked in, I felt if I pushed hard in the first 20 balls, we could put the opposition on the back foot, and that made the difference in the game.”
On his evolving approach at number three, he explained, “If the situation is tricky, I back myself to counter-attack rather than just play defensively. I stick to my strengths but also look to put pressure on the opposition early.”
Kohli also revealed a personal side, saying he sends all his trophies to his mother in Gurgaon, joking, “Yeah, she likes keeping all the trophies.”
Reflecting on the crowd’s reaction when he walks in to bat after Rohit Sharma, Kohli added, “I feel a bit bad for the batter going out, but I understand the crowd gets excited. I try to focus on my game and not get distracted.”
India captain Shubman Gill praised Kohli, saying, “At the moment, he’s making batting look easy. It’s tough to start on these pitches, but I hope he keeps piling on the runs.” Kohli concluded, “Staying in the present is most important, especially for athletes. That’s what I try to do.” (Agencies)
