Dubai: Virat Kohli stood at the crease, the bat poised in anticipation. Outside the off stump, the tempter arrived — the ball begging to be driven. For months, that one shot had been his undoing. The cover drive — his most elegant stroke — had fetched him countless runs and just as many failures. But champions aren’t made by shying away from danger. In Dubai, Kohli went for the stroke that could break him — or set him free.
For the past few years, that very stroke had become Kohli’s greatest paradox — his signature, yet his weakness. The deliveries outside off stump had brought him more heartache than runs, forcing him to question the shot that had defined his career. But against Pakistan in Dubai, the hunger to dominate outweighed the fear of failure. With one flowing cover drive, Kohli not only pierced the infield — he silenced the doubts that had clouded his mind.
“It’s a Catch-22 situation (cover drive). It’s been my weakness as well over the years, but cover drive has given me a lot of runs,” the star batter told in a BCCI video ahead of his milestone 300th One-Day International against New Zealand on Sunday.
Dubai has found a special place in Kohli’s career. It was at the Ring of Fire that he scored his first Twenty20 century, ending a prolonged drought, and last week against Pakistan, he carved out his 51st ODI century while crossing the 14,000-run mark — another testament that the King is far from done.
The milestone might be just another number for Kohli, but the hunger behind each run is what sets him apart. With 82 centuries across formats, he sits on the cusp of history — just 149 runs away from overtaking Kumar Sangakkara to become the second-highest run-scorer in ODI cricket, trailing only Sachin Tendulkar.
“One major difference between the two is that I think Virat Kohli is a better chaser than Sachin Tendulkar. Tendulkar liked batting first and was perhaps a certainty against the new ball. But it’s about winning matches,” former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar said.
Kohli’s appetite for runs is matched only by his desire for trophies. India’s last ICC 50-over title came in 2011 — a drought that has spanned Kohli’s entire career. After falling short in the 2023 World Cup final, the 36-year-old knows that time is running out to add another major silverware to his glittering career.
India’s wicketkeeper KL Rahul hailed Kohli’s commitment to the team’s cause. “That (300) is a lot of ODI games and a lot of international games and he’s been… I mean words fall short to express how good a player he’s been and what a great servant of Indian cricket he’s been,” Rahul said in Dubai.
“Really happy to see that he got the 100 last game as well and he’s been batting really well. For a player of his calibre it was about time that he scores that big century and a match-winning century. Virat and Rohit, they are the senior players and you are always looking up to them to step up and score when the big games come. Hopefully, there’s many more hundreds left for him (Kohli) and many more games of international cricket.”
The admiration extends beyond borders. New Zealanders Glenn Phillips and Michael Bracewell joined the chorus, hailing Kohli’s consistency and longevity ahead of his 300th ODI.
“To be very honest, I had predicted very early that he would break Sachin Tendulkar’s record. He still has got the same hunger and passion… He values his wicket,” UAE coach Lalchand Rajput said at the launch of a book — Life Lessons from Cricket.
The aggressive player on the field is a different man off it — a mentor, philosopher, and guide to the younger generation. Yet, when he pulls on the Indian jersey, there is only one mission: to chase down victories.
With the Champions Trophy looming, Kohli’s hunger is fiercer than ever. The cover drive that once threatened to betray him is now his weapon again. And as long as the King is chasing runs, India’s pursuit of glory remains very much alive.