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[VIDEOS/ PICTURES] Virat Kohli has secured his position as an ATG

Virat Kohli Shuts Down Critics With Powerful "Outside Noise" Remark After Dubai Hundred

Virat Kohli said his plan was to attack the pacers and take less risk against the spinners in the high-pressure Champions Trophy clash against Pakistan on Sunday and having steered the team home with a sparkling hundred, his 36-year-old body is happy to get a week-long break before the next game. India's six-wicket win against arch-rivals has almost sealed a semifinal spot for the side and all but knocked the hosts out of the tournament. Kohli got majority of his runs from running the quick singles and doubles as he collected only seven fours in his 100 not out off 111 balls.

"At 36, a week off is very good. It takes a lot out of me to put in that much effort," said the superstar referring to the last group A clash against New Zealand on March 2.

He completed his 51st ODI hundred with a four off the last ball of the match. Heading into the high-stakes game, Kohli had his fair share of struggles against the spinners.

"It feels good to bat in that manner in an important game, where a spot for semis was there to be taken, after Rohit (Sharma) fell (20 off 15 balls). My job was clear - to control the middle overs, not take risks against spinners and take on pacers.

"I was happy with the template, it's how I play in ODIs," said Kohli at the post-match presentation after scoring his fourth hundred against Pakistan.

Kohli also got to a special milestone in the run chase as he became only the second Indian and third overall to amass 14000 ODI runs after compatriot Sachin Tendulkar (18,246 runs) and Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara (14,234 runs).

When asked about his approach in the innings, Kohli said: "I have a decent understanding of my game. It's about keeping the outside noise away, take care of my energy levels and thoughts.

"It's easy for me to get pulled into expectations and frenzy around games like these (India-Pakistan). I kept telling myself I'll give my 100 per cent while fielding. It's why I take pride in it. When you put your head down and go about your work, things work out."

He also credited Rohit, Shubman Gill (46) and Shreyas Iyer (56) for taking on the pacers on a tricky pitch.

"Clarity is important, when there is pace on the ball, you have to get scoring. Shubman and Shreyas have been excellent. Everyone's got a decent knock in these conditions, that'll augur well in the coming matches," he said.

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Mohammad Amir, while speaking to a local Indian media outlet:

“Why do people love Ronaldo? Why do they love Messi? Ronaldo is special; look at his lifestyle. Look at his charity work, his work ethic, and his fitness, complete fit. Similarly, with Virat, he is a complete package.”

“Why is he a role model for many, even in Pakistan? Country doesn’t matter. Role models can come from anywhere, be it Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, or England.”

“Virat Kohli is a player for whom age does not count. His work ethic does not depend upon whether he is in form or not. He came in for training 90 minutes before the India-Pakistan match.”
 
Sunil Gavaskar, speaking to a local sports media outlet, hails Virat Kohli as the 'Chancellor of Indian Cricket University':

“I think it’s the desire to be better than yesterday. He’s never satisfied with what he’s achieved and always wants to do more. The pride he shows playing for India is an honour and a privilege."

"There are millions who dream of playing for India. Whether it’s a test match, a 50-over game, or a T20 game, representing your country is every young kid’s dream and ambition. Keeping that ambition alive is key for Kohli wanting to excel in every game."

“It’s not just about the runs he scores. Look at his commitment on the field—how he dives, returns the ball to the wicketkeeper or bowler, and tries to save runs for his team. That wholehearted commitment to India is crucial. That’s why his evolution from a learner to almost a professor of cricket is remarkable."
 
FearlessRoar said:
Mohammad Amir, while speaking to a local Indian media outlet:

“Why do people love Ronaldo? Why do they love Messi? Ronaldo is special; look at his lifestyle. Look at his charity work, his work ethic, and his fitness, complete fit. Similarly, with Virat, he is a complete package.”

“Why is he a role model for many, even in Pakistan? Country doesn’t matter. Role models can come from anywhere, be it Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, or England.”

“Virat Kohli is a player for whom age does not count. His work ethic does not depend upon whether he is in form or not. He came in for training 90 minutes before the India-Pakistan match.”
Click to expand...
 
Virat Kohli completes 8,000 runs while chasing in ODIs

8hzR258.jpg
 
50 up for Virat Kohli in 1st Semi-final against Australia. India in full control of the chase at the moment
 
Virat Kohli becomes the first player to score five 50+ scores in semis or finals of ICC ODI events

Most 50+ scores in semis or finals of ICC ODI events ⬇

5 - Virat Kohli (11 inns)
4 - Sourav Ganguly (6 inns)
4 - Steve Smith (6 inns)
4 - Sachin Tendulkar (10 inns)
 
FearlessRoar said:
Virat Kohli becomes the first player to score five 50+ scores in semis or finals of ICC ODI events

Most 50+ scores in semis or finals of ICC ODI events ⬇

5 - Virat Kohli (11 inns)
4 - Sourav Ganguly (6 inns)
4 - Steve Smith (6 inns)
4 - Sachin Tendulkar (10 inns)
Click to expand...
Nice.

But apparently he's a loser like his mentor :srt
 
Kohli became only the 2nd batter to go past 8000 runs while chasing. Most runs in ODIs while batting 2nd

Sachin Tendulkar - 8720
Virat Kohli - 8015*
Rohit Sharma - 6115
 
Great game, couldn’t have won it without him today.

Even past his prime, he won us two important matches this CT, plus scored valuable runs in T20 final last year. GOAT!
 
Chase Master

Greatest chaser ever by far.

Greatest ODI batsman arguably
 
Old is gold.

You hear winning greats like Ponting speak, and they ALWAYS talk of a mix of old and youth for big tournaments and big matches.


del.png
 
Kohli's power game has massively declined. He has lost his power-hitting capabilities compared to earlier. He now heavily depends on singles and doubles. Let’s see how he performs when chasing big targets like 300+.
 
pillionrider said:
Dunno about Kohli, but despite being a massive Rohit fan, I can't see how he can last another 2 years. Seems just too far away. Kohli is a different beast with the mind of a monstrous machine. Anything is possible with him.
Click to expand...
Yeah his power game is gone as @Cover Drive Six said. SA wickets in 2027 will be 350+ wickets. We need more aggression and younger legs. Need to build a team for next 2 years and given 30-40 ODIs to newer younger players.
 
pillionrider said:
Dunno about Kohli, but despite being a massive Rohit fan, I can't see how he can last another 2 years. Seems just too far away. Kohli is a different beast with the mind of a monstrous machine. Anything is possible with him.
Click to expand...
Rohit is done. He bats to just maximise the power- play. Great Captain.. But i feel 2027 is too far.
 
hoshiarpurexpress said:
Yeah his power game is gone as @Cover Drive Six said. SA wickets in 2027 will be 350+ wickets. We need more aggression and younger legs. Need to build a team for next 2 years and given 30-40 ODIs to newer younger players.
Click to expand...
If anybody can find a solution, it will be Kohli. He is sus against spin, still managed to hold off in this CT. Guy still fields and runs like a 25 year old. He has the mental toughness too to pull it off.

At the very least, please let’s bring him back against Pakistan 😂
 
Mockingbird said:
If anybody can find a solution, it will be Kohli. He is sus against spin, still managed to hold off in this CT. Guy still fields and runs like a 25 year old. He has the mental toughness too to pull it off.

At the very least, please let’s bring him back against Pakistan 😂
Click to expand...
True. May be horses for courses.
 
Devadwal said:
Virat Kohli once again brings out his best when it matters the most. Five 50s in the last 6 knockout matches of the ICC white-ball tournaments. Scores of 51*, 76, 9, 54, 117 and 50. That's an average of 71.40 in semis/finals.

:kp
Click to expand...
And more importantly, scores against Pakistan. And this, when he is supposed to be washed out.
 
Most 50+ Scores in ICC ODI Tournaments (Inngs)
24 - Virat Kohli (53)
23 - Sachin Tendulkar (58)
18 - Rohit Sharma (42)
17 - Kumar Sangakkara (56)
16 - Ricky Ponting (60)
 
Reaction: In-form Kohli delighted with India victory

Virat Kohli was happy with his timing and composure at the crease after he led India to a four-wicket victory over Australia in the first ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 semi-final in Dubai.

The Indian batter top scored with 84 from 98 balls and his innings proved to be the foundation of a successful run chase after Australia had been dismissed for 264 earlier in the day.

Kohli, who won the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy back in 2013, said his game felt in a good place during his match-winning innings.

“I was not feeling desperate, and I was pretty happy knocking ones around,” he said.

“And when, as a batter, you start taking pride in hitting those singles into the gaps, that is when you know you are playing good cricket and know you are in for a big partnership.

“It settles down the nerves. That was the most pleasing factor for me today.”

Kohli’s innings featured only five boundaries but the 36-year-old was unfussed by that, explaining how he had to tailor his approach depending on the situation.

“For me it is about understanding the conditions, preparing my game accordingly, rotating strike,” he continued. “Big partnerships on this pitch are the most important thing and my effort today was to string enough partnerships [together].

“The pitch tells me how the cricket needs to be played and then I just switch on and play accordingly.

“This game is all about pressure, especially semis and finals. When you go deep into the innings with enough wickets in hand, the opposition usually gives in, and the game becomes easier.”

With a final against either South Africa or New Zealand on Sunday to come, Kohli, who fell 16 runs short of a record-extending 52nd ODI century, added that helping the team is always his focus above personal gain.

“I am never focussed on those things [milestones],” he said. “When you do not think of those milestones, they happen along the way towards victory.

“For me, it is all about taking pride and doing the job for the team and if I get to the three-figure mark then great.

“If not, nights like these, you win, it is a happy dressing room, and you feel grateful for what happened out there [on the pitch]. Then you put your head down, work hard, and go all over again.”

Speaking after the match, Australia captain Steven Smith, who topped scored in his side’s innings with 73, pinpointed the loss of wickets at crucial times as the reason for the result.

“It was not the easiest batting conditions, that is why the scores were what they were," he said. "Having said that, I think we could have probably put a few more on.

“We lost a couple of wickets at crucial times. If we got 280+, things could have been different.

“It always felt like we were one wicket too many down at each stage of the game. If we were able to drag one of those partnerships out, that is probably where we get to 280 and then there is a little but more pressure on the game.”
 
Wasim Akram, while speaking on a show on a local sports media outlet:

“Look at these all names with the highest run chasers. Sachin, Rohit, Jayasuriya and Kallis. There are the greats of the game and Kohli is definitely going to pass Sachin Tendulkar the way it looks like. Kohli’s average is only second to MS Dhoni. Dhoni got close to 100 and Kohli’s average is close to 90. That’s just phenomenal.”
 
Kapil Dev, while speaking to a local media outlet:

"I think he has the temperament to take up a bigger challenge, and that is where he gets the energy. He likes to play like that and very few cricketers have that temperament. But end of the day, he has the talent and the class on how to win matches. We know Dhoni used to do that, but Kohli is one step ahead of anybody else."
 
In a post-match interview, star India batter Virat Kohli said:

“I try to speak to these guys as much as possible, try to share my experience, how I’ve been able to play for so long, try to step in wherever I can to help improve their games and yeah, it’s only, as they rightly say, when you leave, you want to leave the place in a better position,”

“That’s our effort, you know, that’s what we’re striving for that when eventually we are finally done at whatever stage, we have a squad that’s ready to take on the world for the next 8-10 years, and these guys definitely have the talent to do so,”

“To come out here having the result our way is a great feeling. Very, very happy. (On his approach) It’s obviously not natural to me. When you’re trying to do something different, you need the backing of the team and the management. They were right through with me. In the ODI World Cup as well with Rahul (Dravid) bhai, this is what I spoke to him about, and he was very much okay with it, and now Gauti (Gautam Gambhir) bhai as well,”
 
The 2025 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to start on Saturday (March 22) with a match between defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The match, which is set to take place at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, will be a special one for batting superstar Virat Kohli, as he will have a chance to join Rohit Sharma in an elite list of Indian players. The match between KKR and RCB will be Kohli’s 400th T20 match, and he will become only the third Indian cricketer after Rohit and Dinesh Karthik to make 400 appearances in the shortest format of the game.

Rohit, who will take the field for Mumbai Indians in IPL 2025, has played 448 T20s so far, whereas Dinesh Karthik, who retired from IPL last year, has made 412 T20 appearances till date.
 
Virat Kohli will be in action for Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Saturday (March 22) in the IPL 2025 match against Kolkata Knight Riders, which is scheduled to take place at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. During the first match of IPL 2025, Kohli, who is the all-time leading run scorer in IPL, will have a chance to create history and become the first batter in the world to score 1000 runs in the IPL against four teams. Kohli, who has 8004 runs to his name in 252 IPL matches played so far, has amassed a total of 1053 runs against CSK, 1057 runs against Delhi Capitals and 1030 runs against Punjab Kings.

If he manages to score at least 38 runs against KKR on Saturday, then he will also complete 1000 runs in the IPL against Knight Riders as well. As of now, he has 962 runs to his name in 34 matches played so far against the Kolkata-based franchise.


News 18
 
Virat Kohli starts IPL 2025 with a bang, scores his first half-century of the season in the tournament opener against KKR.
 
Good innings today- some great shots (those two straight sixes over the bowlers head were amazing!) at a fairly fast clip! So the question here is will no.18 finally win IPL 18?
 
Virat Kohli entered his name in the history books on Monday (April 7) by becoming the first Indian batter to score 13,000 runs in T20s.
 
KING KOHLI REJECT 300 CRORES OFFER

PUMA wanted to retain Virat Kohli and offered him a deal worth of 300 Crores for the next 8 years but King Kohli didn't want to renew the contract .

:kp
 
Virat Kohli Rejected Whopping Rs 300 Crore Puma Offer, Wants To Build His Own Brand: Report

Virat Kohli's association with Puma, one of the most recognized player-apparel partnerships in Indian sport, is coming to an end. After eight years together, the 36-year-old will part ways with the German sportswear brand. Kohli has not renewed his contract with Puma, instead aiming to go solo and increase the reach of his own lifestyle brand 'one8'. However, a newer report has revealed that Kohli has reportedly rejected a mind-boggling contract offer made by Puma of Rs 300 crore for the next eight years, in order to pursue his own project.

In 2017, Kohli had signed an eight-year contract worth Rs 110 crore to link up with Puma as their brand ambassador. However, now he has said no to a deal worth nearly triple that amount, as per a report by Times of India.

The 36-year-old is instead going to team up with sportswear company Agilitas, a company co-founded by former Puma India and South-east Asia managing director Abhishek Ganguly.

Kohli's primary focus will reportedly be to globalize his own lifestyle and athleisure brand 'one8'.

Puma have already confirmed Kohli's departure.

"Puma wishes Virat the best for his future endeavours. It was a wonderful association with him spanning several years, many outstanding campaigns and path-breaking product collaborations. As a sports brand, Puma will continue to actively invest in the next generation of athletes and aggressively build the future of the sporting ecosystem in India," a spokesperson from Puma had said in a statement, as quoted by TOI.

Virat Kohli, Royal Challengers Bengaluru: IPL 2025

Meanwhile, Kohli continues to represent Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in IPL 2025. Under the leadership of new captain Rajat Patidar, RCB have enjoyed early success, winning three of their first five games.

Kohli himself has looked in decent touch. He slammed a half-century against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in his side's first match of IPL 2025, and then hit 67 as RCB narrowly beat Mumbai Indians a couple of games later.

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BouncerGuy said:
Virat Kohli Rejected Whopping Rs 300 Crore Puma Offer, Wants To Build His Own Brand: Report

Virat Kohli's association with Puma, one of the most recognized player-apparel partnerships in Indian sport, is coming to an end. After eight years together, the 36-year-old will part ways with the German sportswear brand. Kohli has not renewed his contract with Puma, instead aiming to go solo and increase the reach of his own lifestyle brand 'one8'. However, a newer report has revealed that Kohli has reportedly rejected a mind-boggling contract offer made by Puma of Rs 300 crore for the next eight years, in order to pursue his own project.

In 2017, Kohli had signed an eight-year contract worth Rs 110 crore to link up with Puma as their brand ambassador. However, now he has said no to a deal worth nearly triple that amount, as per a report by Times of India.

The 36-year-old is instead going to team up with sportswear company Agilitas, a company co-founded by former Puma India and South-east Asia managing director Abhishek Ganguly.

Kohli's primary focus will reportedly be to globalize his own lifestyle and athleisure brand 'one8'.

Puma have already confirmed Kohli's departure.

"Puma wishes Virat the best for his future endeavours. It was a wonderful association with him spanning several years, many outstanding campaigns and path-breaking product collaborations. As a sports brand, Puma will continue to actively invest in the next generation of athletes and aggressively build the future of the sporting ecosystem in India," a spokesperson from Puma had said in a statement, as quoted by TOI.

Virat Kohli, Royal Challengers Bengaluru: IPL 2025

Meanwhile, Kohli continues to represent Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in IPL 2025. Under the leadership of new captain Rajat Patidar, RCB have enjoyed early success, winning three of their first five games.

Kohli himself has looked in decent touch. He slammed a half-century against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in his side's first match of IPL 2025, and then hit 67 as RCB narrowly beat Mumbai Indians a couple of games later.

NDTV
Click to expand...
Is Puma making a mistake similar to what Nike did with letting Roger Federer go to Uniqlo?
 
Virat Kohli surpassed Australia's David Warner for the most 50-plus scores in IPL history, reaching the milestone for the 67th time, which includes eight centuries.
 
Virat Kohli excels for RCB with another half century, this time against Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2025. Currently at 69*(40)
 
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