 "Virat Kohli satisfied with Player of the Series performance against South Africa: 'Haven't played at this level for 2-3 years'")
“I don’t think I have played at this level for a good 2-3 years,” said Virat Kohli after hitting another half-century to guide India to victory in the third and final ODI of the series against South Africa on Saturday in Visakhapatnam. The victory helped India win the series 2-1.
Highlights: India vs South Africa 3rd ODI in Visakhapatnam
“Honestly, just playing the way I have in this series has been the most satisfying thing for me. I don’t think I have played at this level for a good 2-3 years now and I feel really free in my mind,” Kohli said after winning the Player of the Series award. He left behind Sachin Tendulkar in the list of players with most Player of the Series awards in international cricket withto get his 20th such honour.
Kohli hit 302 runs in the series with two centuries and an unbeaten half-century in the three games.
Kohli reveals he is taking extra risk
One thing that stood out in the series for Kohli was that he was willing to take more risks early on in his innings and the 37-year-old agreed that he indeed was being more aggressive.
“When I play freely, then I know I can hit sixes. So, I just wanted to have some fun because I was batting well, just take a bit more risk. Just push my own boundaries and see where we go. There’s always levels you can unlock and you just need to take a risk,” he said.
Kohli hit 12 sixes in the series and batted at a strike rate of 117. He also hit seven sixes in the first ODI in Ranchi, the second most in an innings in his ODI career.
He said his favourite knock of his in the series was the 135 in Ranchi.
“Ranchi was very special for me because it just opened me up in a way that I haven’t felt for a while. I am just grateful for how these three games have gone,” Kohli added.
Rahul says team focussing on process
KL Rahul, who helped India finally win a toss in ODIs after 21 straight losses said that even though he was relieved, the team does not think about it too much.
“We’re not really upset or not really thinking too much about it (toss),“Rahul said after the win. “Because I think the stuff that we’ve been doing, the planning that we’ve done and the processes that they’ve followed and they’ve been consistent with that. So, today was one instance where doing the same thing paid off.”
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