Virat Kohli, one of cricket’s modern greats, emphasized that his approach to batting revolves around adapting to the game’s demands rather than feeding his ego.
The champion batter, who recently became the first Indian to amass 13,000 runs in T20 cricket, shared insights into his philosophy during an interview with JioHotstar.
“It’s never about ego. It was never about trying to overshadow anyone. It’s always been about understanding the game situation—and that’s something I’ve always taken pride in. I want to play according to what the situation demands,” Kohli said. He explained his collaborative mindset, noting, “If I was in rhythm, in the flow of the game, I naturally took the initiative. If someone else was better placed to take the lead, they would do it.”
Kohli, the Indian Premier League’s (IPL) highest run-scorer with 8,168 runs from 256 matches—including a record eight centuries—traced his evolution in the tournament. “In my first three years with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, I didn’t get many opportunities to bat in the top order. I was usually sent lower down. So, I wasn’t really able to crack the IPL in a big way,” he recalled. “But from 2010 onwards, I started performing more consistently, and by 2011, I was regularly batting at number three. That’s when my IPL journey really began to take shape.”
The 36-year-old credited his 18-year IPL tenure for refining his T20 skills. “IPL challenges you in a very unique way because of how the tournament is structured. It’s not like a short bilateral series; it spans several weeks, and your position on the points table keeps shifting. That constantly changing scenario brings different kinds of pressure,” he said. “This dynamic nature of the tournament pushes you mentally and competitively in ways other formats don’t. It’s also driven me to constantly improve and evolve my T20 skill set.”
Kohli’s remarks underline his adaptability and team-first approach, cementing his legacy as a batsman who thrives under pressure while prioritizing the game over personal glory.