Indian middle-order batter and former captain Virat Kohli talked about his critics ahead of the Asia Cup 2023 saying that people will always have opinions.
Kohli has seen good and bad times in his 15-year-long career but one thing is, he never gave up.
The 34-year-old went three years without scoring any century and was criticized by the world simply because of the standards he has set for himself.
Kohli said that he is not at all bothered by criticism.
“People will always have opinions and judgments, but I have learned to trust my instincts and have confidence in my abilities. This self-belief has been the driving force behind all my achievements on the cricket field,” he said.
Kohli has scored a total of 613 runs in 11 ODI Asia Cup matches, he averages 61.3 in the tournament which is the fourth-highest among top-12 run scorers.
It has to be mentioned that Kohli’s ODI best score of 183 runs also came in the Asia Cup 2012 against Pakistan.
The Indian batter also stated that he drives motivation from his own performances.
“This self-belief helps me stay positive and focused on improving my game… I draw inspiration from my past successes and learnings. Reflecting on the moments when I performed at my best and analysing the areas where I can improve from losses, helps me grow as a player. Every setback becomes an opportunity for me to come back stronger," he added.
Apart from his batting, a lot of people are inspired by Kohli’s fitness and how hard he works to maintain his body shape.
“When it comes to training, I believe in pushing myself to the limit. I engage in a combination of strength training, agility drills, and endurance exercises. It’s all about building a strong foundation to handle the challenges of the game and stay injury-free.
“Of course, rest and recovery are equally crucial. Giving my body enough time to recover from intense training sessions is essential for peak performance. So, I make sure to get enough sleep and listen to my body’s needs.”
- Virat Kohli