Virat Kohli’s indifferent displays with the bat in the last couple of years or so have baffled the cricket world. Not very long ago, the former India skipper was scoring centuries for fun. No matter what the conditions were, what the venues were or who the opposition was, Kohli rarely had a bad day with the bat. Things have, however, changed drastically in the last few months. The batting superstar has not hit a century in international cricket since 2019.
His performance in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) has also taken many by surprise. The 33-year old has looked like a pale shadow of his usual self. Even though he is playing the ongoing season without the captaincy burden, he is struggling to deliver with the bat. In 13 games so far, he has managed to score only 236 runs at a modest average of only 19.67. A strike-rate of 113.46 in T20Is does not reflect Kohli’s calibre either.
The batting superstar has been dismissed for three golden ducks, the most by him in a season of IPL. Prior to the ongoing season, he had only three golden ducks in the previous 14 seasons of the tournament. Kohli’s constant struggle with the bat is now giving rise to questions regarding his future in the game. And Kohli recently spoke on the same. Speaking to Star Sports, Kohli revealed his retirement plans. The former India skipper made it clear that he would walk away from the game the day he loses his drive for it. Kohli insisted that his passion or drive for the game has not diminished.
“… Not to say that I don’t have the same drive, my drive will never die down. The day my drive goes away, I’ll not be playing this game. But to understand that some things are not controllable, the only controllable you have are things that you can work towards, which is working hard on the field and in life as well and from that point of view, I feel that I am in the most balanced space that I have ever been and I am happy with who I am and how I am leading my life,” said Virat Kohli.
Kohli will be desperate to get his form back in the ongoing IPL and help RCB clinch their first ever IPL title. The Bangalore-based outfit is still in contention for a playoffs spot. Following the IPL, Kohli will have a busy schedule with Team India. India will soon tour England before playing the Asia Cup and the all-important T20 World Cup.