Virat Kohli struck an unbeaten 139 off 88 balls in India’s chase against West Indies, hitting 10 fours and nine sixes to guide the team to victory. The knock took Kohli past the 15,000-run mark in ODI cricket, extending his record as one of the format’s most prolific batters. Kohli’s nine sixes in the innings marked a career-best for him in a single ODI outing.
Former India batter Mohammad Kaif offered a striking perspective on Kohli’s performance and the scrutiny surrounding the star’s personal life choices. Kaif highlighted that Kohli’s recent form has silenced critics who questioned his decision to stay outside India.
“If Kohli can play such knocks, it doesn’t matter if he stays in London or America. He can stay wherever he wants. A lot of people also made an issue out of him staying outside. Whatever it is, it has not affected his game at all,” Kaif said in a video on his YouTube channel.
“He has shut everybody’s mouths. Everyone questioned how he would score while staying out, but he has put a full stop to all of it. He was the Player of the Tournament in the 2023 World Cup, Man of the Match in the 2024 T20 World Cup final, scored a hundred in the Champions Trophy, and was Man of the Match in the IPL 2026 final. He has not left any opportunity,” he added.
Kohli’s remarkable recent form and resurgence
Kohli’s recent run of form has been remarkable. Over his last 11 ODI innings, he accumulated over 900 runs, including four centuries. This resurgence came after he faced consecutive ducks in Australia, a period that drew considerable criticism. The 139-run knock against West Indies demonstrated his ability to respond emphatically to such setbacks.
Kaif emphasised the pride and mindset that Kohli brings to international cricket, noting how the batter’s approach has evolved over his long career. The former India player highlighted that Kohli’s consistency and mental clarity have become defining features of his recent success.
“When Kohli steps out in the Indian jersey, he takes pride. Everyone takes pride, crores of people play, but he takes a whole different pride. He has already played for 18 years, has 55 ODI hundreds, but still says he is lucky for the opportunity every time he plays,” Kaif said.
“It means that he knows how lucky he is to showcase his skillset. He has such a clear mindset. A clear mindset is a big reason for his success right now,” he added.
Kaif on Kohli’s peak form and changed approach
Kaif assessed Kohli’s current form as the best of his career, noting the quality and control evident in his recent batting displays. The former batter observed that Kohli is peaking at a time when questions about his age and the emergence of younger players had intensified.
“I think he is in the best form of his life. There were many questions on his age and new players waiting to be given chances. Many pundits also have such statements many times. But I think Kohli is proving everyone wrong at every stage. This was a completely different knock,” Kaif said.
“There was pure dominance. I feel he is actually peaking now. I have not seen such a quick and controlled knock from him. He has been scoring hundreds, but I am talking about his mindset and approach,” he added.
Kaif reflected on the transformation in Kohli’s demeanour and approach to criticism, observing that the batter has moved beyond the need to respond publicly to detractors. This shift in mindset has allowed Kohli to focus entirely on his performance with the bat.
“If you look at Kohli previously, he would reply to people when he would score hundreds before and made many statements. But he is calm now and has gone past all this. He does not talk about anyone even though people are still behind him. It is like he has no point to prove, and he does not tell anything to anyone,” Kaif said.
“There is no reaction. He is only reacting with his bat. I have seen very few people in such a space,” he added.
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The century was Kohli’s 86th international hundred across all formats. In ODI cricket alone, Kohli has amassed 15,080 runs across 315 matches and 303 innings, with an average of 59.14, 55 centuries and 79 fifties. His highest ODI score stands at 183. The West Indies match showcased his continued ability to deliver match-winning performances at the highest level.
