Former India cricketer and broadcaster Mohammad Kaif has stated that Virat Kohli no longer needs to play local cricket since his hunger and enthusiasm to represent the country are unrivaled. Kohli extended his excellent form in the previous three-match ODI series against New Zealand, amassing 240 runs in three innings.

He scored 124 off 108 balls in the third ODI, including ten fours and three sixes, but India fell short of the 337-run mark. Following another successful series, Mohammad Kaif lauded the batting veteran for his extraordinary consistency despite not playing consistently.

“Virat has become the player who is seen once in a while now. But he comes, scores runs, and then goes back to London. It has become like that. He comes, scores, and goes. It is not easy to score so consistently when you are not playing regularly. But it is his passion, his fitness, his pride in playing for the country, his knowledge of the game, and his own preparation. He has proved it,” Kaif said on his YouTube channel.

Kaif further added that Kohli doesn’t need to play domestic cricket anymore, as he is able to practice back home in London as long as his passion to play for the country at the highest level is remains unmatched.

“There is no need for him to play domestic cricket now. Anyone can get match practice, but the passion he has is not available in any market. Where will you get that from? Even in the last game, he was the hope. Virat will single-handedly win against 10 players standing in front of him too,” he added.

Kohli has been in outstanding form since the third ODI against Australia in Sydney in 2025. He has 616 runs in his last seven innings, an average of 123.2 and a strike rate of 108.64, with three centuries and as many fifties to his credit. Kohli will next be seen in action in July, when India plays England in a three-match ODI series.