Virat Kohli Having ruled out any return to Test cricket, he joked during the launch of his new footwear range that he would rather sell the product at a low price than make a comeback and add more runs to his Test record.The former India captain, who retired last year after scoring 9,230 runs in Test cricket, was attending the world premiere of his One8 footwear range when he was asked a light-hearted question about his comeback in white. The red shoe is priced in line with Kohli’s trial run statistics, prompting suggestions that he could revive the longest-running silhouette and add more value to the product. However, Kohli was quick to dismiss the idea with a smile.“I’d rather sell cheap. I’ve had enough (of Test cricket),” he said, drawing laughter from those in attendance.While the exchange provided a humorous moment, Kohli also spoke at length about the mentality that defined his career. The batting maestro explained that he always believed that no matter how difficult the situation, the game was never over until the final result was determined.To illustrate this mentality, Kohli mentioned India’s memorable victory in the 2022 T20 World Cup in Melbourne, where he played the best innings of his career.“I was born that way. I almost long for people to feel like it’s gone and then you can try to bring the game back.“That’s how I looked at the situation from a young age. And I never stopped believing, until the end, that the game was lost or we couldn’t win.” Something magical happened.“One thing that always stood out for me was the match against Pakistan in Melbourne. I was told later that the chance of winning the match was around 3 per cent. But I never thought of it that way. Even 1 per cent is enough. If there is a chance, there is a chance. So, you are not really done until you lose the match,” Kohli said.The 37-year-old also reflected on how his character has evolved over the years. Kohli was known for his fiery and aggressive attitude in the early stages of his international career and he believes his younger self would be surprised by how calm he is now.“He may not have imagined that he would be so calm. There may be an expectation that he would still be loud and boisterous.”“When things are going in a good direction, I get a sense of pride when I see where we’re doing. It feels like I walk into any room with my head held high.” Don’t hesitate about who I am and what I want to do.“Just following my vision and my heart and having the conviction to do it. Those are the things I’ll be proud of.”Despite his departure from the Test arena, Kohli remains a staple of Indian cricket. Now a one-format international player, he recently helped Royal Challengers Bangalore win their second consecutive IPL title, adding another major achievement to his illustrious career.
What aspect of Kohli’s character do you find most admirable?
Even though Kohli is at a different stage in his life, his competitive spirit and unwavering self-belief remain as strong as ever.
