Kohli smashed 105* off 60 balls to take RCB over the line against KKR.
Chasing 193 for victory, the ace batter smashed 105* off 60 balls with the help of 11 fours and three sixes to take RCB over the finishing line with five deliveries to spare.
Speaking after the game, Kohli addressed his restrained celebration after reaching century, stating that the goal was to make a significant impact for his team by "batting long enough" to secure two points.
“Well, the celebration wasn't a big one because we know the importance of the points right now. And yeah, look, for me, it's a conscious effort to try and contribute to the team's scores. And I know if I bat for long enough in the game, our chances of winning become higher,” Kohli said at the post-match presentation.
“So the fact that I didn't get many runs in the last two games was, it eats me up in a way that I know I can play well and I'm hitting the ball well. But then when you don't carry on and you know, you haven't created the impact for the team, it bothers you because that's basically been the goal all these years, trying to improve so that you can be the best version for your team when you play out there and make an impact. So, yeah, century or no century, I think the more important thing is finishing the game, making sure that I was out there till the end to get those two points, which again, puts us at the top of the table,” he added.
Kohli emphasized that "pressure is a privilege" as he admitted to feeling nervous after scoring back-to-back ducks. He also mentioned that failing to score in the previous two games drove him to train harder.
“Well, there's a reason why people say pressure is a privilege. It actually keeps you humble, keeps you focused, makes you work hard at practice again. You can't take things for granted. Butterflies in the stomach, good pressure always helps you to improve your game. So I was in the nets working harder. Training harder, you tend to, when you're playing well, you can tend to kind of taper off a little bit with your intensity and focus. But I think a couple of games that don't go your way, you start feeling a bit of nervousness again,” Virat remarked.
“It helps you to go out there and work on your game and back yourself even more, which takes a lot of effort out of you. But then I think you go a level up as a player and then you keep improving your game little by little. And at the end of the day, when you look back, those failures are so important because they put you back into the place that gets you the performances in the first place and it doesn't let you go off your intense best. So I think that's why people say pressure is a privilege. And of course, I was nervous. I just wanted to get off the mark and just celebrate and have a bit of fun there,” he explained.
Reflecting on his record-extending ninth IPL ton, Virat Kohli expressed that sticking to playing risk-free cricket by hitting gaps and executing shots to his ability pleased him the most.
“Well, just my positions at the crease, you know, not trying to do anything extravagant, just backing my game, hitting a lot of fours, hitting gaps, being clear as to where I wanted to hit sixes, which length I wanted to hit sixes from, and just staying in the game, like running a lot of twos, hitting the boundaries where needed, picking length, hitting the gaps that I know I can hit. So I was happy for the fact that I was able to back my game and execute the shots that I usually execute to the best of my ability. And that gets me the most consistent, the most risk-free cricket, keeping the demands of the situation always in front of me and the team's need always at the top of my head. So all these factors were very pleasing for me out there,” Kohli said.
Despite achieving numerous records, Virat Kohli shared his enduring love for batting, gratitude for competing at the highest level, and desire to maximize his time on the field, acknowledging the transient nature of a professional cricket career.
“Well, I just love batting, even after all this. You know, that's my core feeling. Look, what an honour to be playing at this level. What an honour to be competing with the very best in the world still. This is all I've done all my life. Cricket is absolutely something that I truly love. And I just give my heart and soul out there on the field, whether I'm fielding or batting, because it's going to finish one day. And I want to make the most of every day that I'm on the field and just enjoy myself and have a lot of fun and look forward to a pressure situation, look forward to scenarios where I'm feeling a bit of heat. And then I challenge myself to say, you know what, just go for it. And when you cross the line, it makes you a better player. And sport, as you know, teaches you a lot as a person as well. So you build your character slowly and surely when you keep performing under pressure. And for me, even after all these years and numbers and whatever you said, it's still the love for the game. I just love hitting the ball in the middle of the bat. And that joy is still there. And it's all God's grace. And I'm very thankful and grateful,” he concluded.