I don’t focus on milestones like these - Virat Kohli

ndian star batter Virat Kohli has reached another rare milestone in ODI cricket. In the first ODI against the West Indies in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday, Kohli played a crucial role in India's victory by scoring a brilliant unbeaten 139. With this knock, he completed 15,000 runs in ODI cricket. He became only the second Indian after legendary batter Sachin Tendulkar to achieve the feat and the fastest player in the world to reach the milestone.

Speaking about the record after the match, Kohli said team victories are more important to him than personal milestones. “I don’t focus on milestones like these. My focus is on playing according to the needs of the team. The records come on their own in the process. I consider myself fortunate to have had the opportunity to represent my country for so many years,” he said.

Kohli said that at this stage of his career, he has taken up the challenge of developing a new version of himself as a player. “Being physically fit allows me to play with greater mental freedom. That is the reason for my consistency. Restricting myself to one format has given me greater clarity about my goals for the 2027 World Cup,” he explained. He also advised young players not to worry about outside matters and to approach every match as if it were their last.Kohli was also pleased with the crucial partnership he shared with captain Shubman Gill, who scored 110, in the match. Praising Gill, Kohli said the young captain has the right approach towards the game, which is why he is leading the team.