Feb. 3: The last couple of months have been heady for Virat Kohli. Last year around this time he was considered nothing more than a fringe player who would be drafted into the India team only when one of the regulars was sidelined due to injuries.
Two back-to-back One-day International hundreds — against Australia and against New Zealand — followed by two 60-plus knocks all racked up at home late last year have, however, catapulted him into such a position from which it will absolutely criminal to kick him to the kerb But even if he doesn’t warrant a permanent place in the playing XI for the World Cup matches, it’s not going to bother him too much.
“I’ll get over it and keep working hard to win my place in the side again,” the 22-year-old says with confidence. On Thursday, he spoke about his current form, handling stardom and India’s chances at the World Cup beginning from February 19.
Excerpts:
You’ve been a lot more consistent with the bat in recent times. What changed from last year?
Confidence. As you start playing international cricket you start to learn, you try not to make the same mistakes again and again.
When you play for India there’s always pressure — it will be a lot more during the World Cup because it’s at home.
But in the short stint I’ve had with the Indian team, I’ve realised that no good can come by taking too much pressure on yourself or being too nervous.
Once I understood this, I started playing a lot more confidently.
There have been cases of youngsters doing very well in the initial phase of their career, but faltering later...
That’s not going to be a problem with me. I’m from a middle-class family and I know how to keep my feet on the ground.
What I’ve learnt as a kid in school and from my family is still with me.
How do India stack up against the other sides ahead of the World Cup?
We’ll face the toughest competition from Australia, South Africa and England — they have really good sides.
But we have incredible faith in our abilities. There’s a feeling in the Indian team that whatever target the opposition sets we can achieve it.
Even in the rain-hit game (fourth one-dayer of the series) in South Africa, me and Bhajji (Harbhajan Singh) were thinking that we can beat South Africa if we can get to the last 15 overs without losing a wicket.
How will the spate of injuries affect your and India’s preparations in the World Cup?
I’m working hard on my game — you can’t think too much about injuries. Even if you’re super-fit, you can break a bone and injure an ankle.
So if it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen. We don’t make any plans against any team, but we do try to make our plans on individual level.