South African pacer Dale Steyn praised India’s star batter Virat Kohli after he scored a match-winning century in the first ODI against South Africa. Steyn said Kohli’s amazing energy and strong mindset even at the age of 37 is commendable. Virat scored his 52nd century in ODI cricket, which helped India secure a 17-run win in Ranchi on November 30.
In a conversation with JioStar, Steyn said, “When you speak to most 37 or 38-year-olds, they say they hate leaving home, their dog, their kids. But he (Virat) is in a place mentally where he’s eager to be out there playing for India. You can see it when he’s running between the wickets, fielding and diving. He’s mentally young, fresh, and wants to be here.”
Steyn also pointed to the huge amount of cricket Kohli has played and how his experience helps him stay calm and ready even in tough moments. “He’s played over 300 ODIs in 15–16 years, so the experience is inside him. It’s in his body and mind. Even if he arrived here after three days of rain, it wouldn’t have affected his preparation. He’s mentally strong, visualises well, and can see the ball onto the bat. That’s what the best in the world do. They back themselves because they’ve been out there so many times. A key thing he said is that he’s excited about playing,” Steyn added.
Kohli himself explained his simple approach towards the game. “I have never been a believer of a lot of preparation. All my cricket has been mental… I’ve played 300-odd ODI games and so much cricket, if you’re in touch with the game and are able to hit balls in the practice, if you bat for an hour or two in the nets, you know you’re good,” Kohli said in the post-match presentation.
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