Mumbai, April 3, 2020-
Virat Kohli is arguably the best batsman in the world at present across formats, but if someone would have told him he would sit on top of so many records back when he started off, the Indian captain would tell that person to “get lost”.
In a freewheeling chat with former England batsman Kevin Pietersen on Instagram, Kohli was asked how he feels being the best in the business and if he thought he would make it this far.
“Never. If someone told me 12 years back that I would be what I am today, I would tell him get lost,” Kohli said smiling.
In ODIs, Kohli has the second highest number of centuries and the highest number of centuries in run-chases in the world. The dashing right-hander holds the world record for being the fastest batsman to 10,000 and 11,000 runs in ODI cricket, reaching the milestones in 205 and 222 innings respectively.
In Tests, Kohli has 7,240 runs in 86 matches at an astonishing average of 53.62 and in T20s the premier batsman has 2,794 runs in 82 matches at 50.80.
Asked about his favourite moment on the field, Kohli picked winning the 2011 World Cup under M.S. Dhoni in Mumbai. It was incidentally the same day, April 2, that the two were having the conversation.
“You called me on this special day. We lifted the World Cup in 2011. It was the most special day in my life as a cricketer,” Kohli told Pietersen who himself was a class act during his time.
Kohli also revealed the real story about his nickname ‘chiku’ and how it was popularised by veteran wicketkeeper-batsman Dhoni who shouted it many times from behind the stumps.
Kohli once more affirmed his affinity towards Test cricket, saying the tradtitional five-day grind has made him a better person. (Agency)
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