Virat Kohli is going through one of the best phases of his career. After performing in domestic cricket, he has carried the same rhythm into international cricket as well. He narrowly missed a century in the first ODI against New Zealand, further underlining his strong form.
Maintaining fitness by playing only ODI cricket has set an example for others. More than just physical fitness, Kohli appears to be in complete match fitness. Questions around how he maintains his form and what his routine is before coming out to bat have now drawn attention.
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In Baroda, Virat Kohli scored 93 runs off 91 balls. He first stitched a partnership with Shubman Gill and then with Shreyas Iyer. This commanding innings helped India win the opening match and take a 1–0 lead in the series. With this knock, Kohli also crossed the milestone of 28,000 international runs across all formats, becoming only the second player after Sachin Tendulkar to achieve the feat.
Viral video reveals Kohli’s pre-batting routine
A video of Virat Kohli went viral during the match, offering a glimpse into his preparation before going out to bat. The footage, reportedly shot by a spectator from the gallery, shows Kohli sitting in the dressing room moments before his innings.
In the video, Kohli is seen applying perfume and lotion to his hands. He then eats something, puts on his gloves, and walks out to bat. The entire routine is completed within a few seconds.
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Jamieson reacts to Kohli’s game awareness
Virat Kohli remained in control throughout the match and dictated proceedings from the start. His batting impressed New Zealand pacer Kyle Jamieson, who remarked that Kohli is a player who manages matches at a different level.
Kohli and Jamieson have previously shared the dressing room at Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Jamieson admitted that understanding Kohli’s approach to the game is difficult, highlighting the Indian batter’s exceptional match awareness.
