Star Indian batter Virat Kohli warned young cricketers against getting too comfortable with the money and fame that come with the IPL, saying long-term success in the sport requires far greater commitment and hunger.
Speaking at the third edition of the RCB Innovation Lab’s Indian Sports Summit, Kohli said the rise of franchise cricket has changed the mindset of many young players, with instant recognition and financial security arriving much earlier than before.
“It’s the drive. A lot of people relate drive to money nowadays,” Kohli said.
“Yes, it’s a big factor because when a format that gives you the hype and the recognition, the fame by scoring 40-50 off 20 balls and the kind of money that people can make in the IPL today, it can put you in a very comfortable space.”
Kohli said young players now face an important choice in their careers – whether to remain satisfied with short-format success or push themselves to build long careers across formats.
“They can say, you know what, this is brilliant. I don’t need to handle pressure for too long. I can just go out there and smash the ball,” Kohli said.
“Or you can say, I want to play for 15-20 years. I want to get recognition and respect of the cricketing world, of my own heroes and I want to fulfil this opportunity.”
The former India captain, who enjoyed success across all three formats for more than a decade, said staying at the top demands discipline and the willingness to handle difficult phases.
“That’s a very different zone. You have to be very driven to be able to say, I’m going to commit to this for the next 10-15 years and it’s going to be very, very hard but I’m up for it,” he added.
Kohli also praised the fearless approach of modern-day batters, admitting that the current generation is far more advanced in power-hitting than players from his era.
“These guys are way more advanced in terms of power hitting and explosive cricket,” he said.
However, Kohli said pressure situations and difficult pitches continue to test a batter’s all-round ability, especially in the latter stages of tournaments.
“The reality of the situation is, even in the IPL, let’s wait till week six,” Kohli said.
“When you go to chase 175 or 180 on a tricky pitch when you’re two or three down, how do you do that?”
According to Kohli, adaptability remains one of the most important qualities for a batter, particularly when conditions do not allow attacking cricket.
“To switch your batting according to the demands of the situation, you should have the ability to play in seven, eight different ways and not just one way,” he said.
“If the pitch is not allowing me to hit boundaries, I should be able to run my team to victory.”
Kohli also highlighted the importance of technique, fitness and preparation in helping batters adjust to different match situations.
“For me, it’s dissecting the game and understanding how to go about a situation,” he said.
“For that, I have to prepare physically in a certain way. So, it’s choices that you make mentally to kind of unlock your abilities.”
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