As BCCI pushes for seniors to play domestic cricket, Virat Kohli says, ‘I’ve never been a big believer of lot of preparation’

“I’ve never been a big believer in a lot of preparation, if that makes sense. All my cricket has been mental. As long as I feel good mentally, I can play the game,” he told the broadcasters after getting his Player of the Match award.

Since he is not a big believer in preparation, will playing for Delhi in the upcoming Vijay Hazare ODI tournament add value to his game or help him shake off his perceived rust?

Kohli would also give a brief idea about his life abroad.

“I work physically very hard every day of my life. It’s got nothing to do with cricket anymore. It’s the way I live. So as long as my fitness levels are up and my mental enjoyment and sharpness is there, when you can visualize the game and see yourself running as hard, reacting fast on the ball, you know it’s fine,” he would say.

On Sunday, his 135 off 120 balls proved that ‘net sessions’ in England and visualisation were enough for him to stay match-sharp.

He showed the reflexes of a young man and flew between wickets in a throwback to the time when he first came into national consciousness as a teenager who led India to the under-19 world title. But can he keep doing it till the 2027 World Cup, or will the selectors who want him to play domestic cricket change their mind?

Staying sharp

Kohli kept reminding that he knew what was good for his game. “How do you ensure you’re playing enough cricket to be able to come and deliver performances like these?,” Harsha Bhogle would ask him.

“I’ve played 300-odd ODI games and so much cricket over the last 15-16 years. If you can bat an hour and a half, two hours in the nets without taking a break, you’re meeting all the markers. I understand if there’s a dip in form, you look for games and try to get that form back,” he said.

The way Kohli paced his innings, hit strokes where he wanted, there were no signs that there was a dip in his form.
“As long as you’re hitting the ball well and you’re playing good cricket, at this stage with the experience that I have, for me it’s about being physically fit, mentally ready and excited to play the games that I’m playing. Everything else should take care of itself,” he would add.

India’s Virat Kohli plays a shot during the first One Day International match between India and South Africa in Ranchi, India, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025. (AP Photo)

Like he had said during the last IPL, Kohli said he was enjoying his game because he had re-discovered the joy of hitting the ball.

“Today was really nice to kind of get into the game like that. The pitch played quite decently in the first 20-25 overs before it started to slow down. So I just felt like, ‘let me just go out there and just hit the ball, not think too much about any of the other stuff’. It’s just me and the ball coming at me and just enjoying the game of cricket,” he said.

🗣️🗣️ As long as my physical levels are up and the mental sharpness is there, then you know it's fine.@imVkohli on his fitness and preparation leading up to the series 🫡💪

Match Highlights ▶️ https://t.co/dzqGUrq57R#TeamIndia | #INDvSA | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/lMrjW8dCby

— BCCI (@BCCI) November 30, 2025

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Kohli stressed that whenever he arrives to play, he “is always 120 precent”. Like at Ranchi, where he landed a few days in advance to “get hold of the conditions”. He would also acknowledge the difficulty in playing international cricket at his age.

“I took a day off before the game because I’m 37. So I also need to look after the recovery.”

Bhogle would say that he was making 37 years sound very young. Kohli would throw back his head and chuckle.
Somehow, it sounded like a last laugh.