Former New Zealand fast bowler Simon Doull is confident that Virat Kohli still has plenty of cricket left in him and won’t be ready to walk away from the game until he’s around 45 years old.
Kohli’s recent performances during India’s 2-1 ODI series defeat to New Zealand showed that even at 40-plus, he will remain a world-class batter, carrying India’s fight with his bat through every match.
Across the three matches, Kohli anchored India’s innings with both skill and resilience, proving once again why he is regarded as one of the greatest in the sport. Despite the overall series loss, his individual contributions ensured that India were competitive in key moments.
Simon Doull praises Virat Kohli’s timeless batting craft
Speaking on JioHotstar, Simon Doull highlighted Kohli’s timeless class and physical conditioning, indicating that age hasn’t diminished his ability to influence games.
“Some of the shots were just crisp and clean. Beyond that, it’s how he manoeuvres the field and how he runs between the wickets. There’s still an air of youth about him.
“Despite his age and experience, he’d probably still be the fittest guy on that side. That’s professionalism,” Doull said.
In the ODI series, Kohli was a standout performer. In the opening match in Vadodara, he scored a brisk 93 to help India chase down New Zealand’s total and secure a four-wicket win.
Despite India losing the second ODI by eight wickets, Kohli’s presence remained a constant as he continued to absorb pressure and lead the batting efforts.
Virat Kohli’s heroics in the third ODI and Simon Doull’s future outlook
The series decider saw Kohli produce one of his most memorable knocks of the year, scoring a brilliant 124 off 108 balls to register his 54th ODI century. His century came in a losing cause as India were bowled out for 296 chasing 338, handing New Zealand a historic 41-run series win on Indian soil, their first ever bilateral ODI series triumph in India.
Doull praised not just the quality of Kohli’s batting but also his hunger and determination deep into his career, saying,
“The willingness to keep trying to win games, to drag your team back into the contest when they’re so far behind, and to run as hard as he does, for his own runs and for his teammates,” Doull stated. “There’s so much to love about how he’s playing at the moment. May he stick around in international cricket until he’s 44 or 45 years old.”
For India, Kohli’s performances in this series offered both hope and a reminder of his enduring greatness. Even as the team navigates transitions and new talent, his ability to lead from the front with the bat continues to be invaluable. If his recent form is anything to go by, Kohli’s career could extend well beyond what many expect, delighting fans for years to come.
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