In two high-octane run-chases this series, Virat Kohli has walked in, thumped Australia’s bowlers senseless, and walked off, a vicious hundred against his name and a stump in hand.
As the climax approaches with the seventh and final ODI here on Saturday, Kohli is eager, to keep up his own run and see India home.
“They say winning is the best drug you can have,” he said here on Friday.
“For me, going out there and scoring runs is the biggest high. And if the team wins because of that, I don’t get a greater feeling.”
Kohli’s exploits have been likened to Sachin Tendulkar’s at Sharjah in 1998. Those centuries were his inspiration, he revealed.
“After seeing those two knocks in Sharjah, I got really inspired to do something like that for India — win games single-handedly.
“I’m just fortunate I’ve been able to bat like that in those two games. So far I’m happy with what I’ve done but there’s an unfinished job — one more game to go.”
The new ODI rules, Kohli felt, had reduced the part-time bowler’s role.
“When you have five fielders inside the circle, the part-time bowler is out of contention totally, which used to be a big weapon in one-day cricket before,” he said.
Predicament
“In conditions which are batting-friendly, it is very hard for the captain to contain those runs.”
The Australian vice-captain, Brad Haddin, meanwhile, denied that Mitchell Johnson’s departure was a sign that the Ashes mattered more.
“It's a very exciting way to end this series.”
