The RCB star Virat Kohli has opened up on his two month break from cricket after the side’s victory in the 6th match of the IPL 2024 schedule against Punjab Kings.
Virat Kohli on his two month break
Virat Kohli was named the player of the match in their first home game after smashing 77 runs on 49 deliveries. After the match, he spoke about his break from cricket calling it “a surreal experience.”
Virat Kohli recently missed the entire test series on England’s tour of India 2024 to welcome his second child in London.
“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,” said Virat Kohli. “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.
“And yeah, just the place that we were in, I was telling the guys 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 recognized and just carry on about life that normally people would on a daily basis,” he added.
Despite his absence, he was spoken throughout the entire series by his fans. He also said that he remains grateful for his fans in Bengaluru.
“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,” Kohli said.
“Famously Rahul [Dravid] bhai 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 changing 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.”
“Well I mean you have to [keep adding to you repertoire]. I try to give the team a blazing start, but if wickets fall you have to assess. It wasn’t the usual flat pitch.”
“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.”
His inclusion in India’s squad for the upcoming Men’s T20 World Cup has been a hot topic these days. While Kevin Pieterson suggested Kohli was important to grow sports in the USA, former Indian coach Ravi Shastri then stated that it was not about sporting the game. It was all about winning the competition.
Virat Kohli became the third player to register 100 50+ scores in the T20 format where he said, “I know my name is now attached to just promoting the game in different parts of the world when it comes to T20 cricket. But I’ve still got it I guess. That’s the promise I can give here – I’ll keep turning up and keep trying my best.”
Coming to the tournament, RCB is placed in the sixth position of the points table after their win against Punjab Kings. RCB will be playing their next match against Kolkata Knight Riders on March 29 at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
