NEW DELHI: India's cricket sensation, Virat Kohli, is on a remarkable run of form in the ongoing World Cup, emerging as India's highest run-scorer in the tournament with 354 runs in five outings at an impressive average of 118.00. Kohli's extraordinary success on the pitch is underpinned by a distinctive philosophy - he prioritises chasing betterment over seeking excellence.
"I have always worked on how I can better myself every day, every practice session, every year and every season. So, that is what has helped me play for this long and perform," Kohli revealed during a conversation with Star Sports.
Kohli firmly believes that a commitment to continuous self-improvement is the key to his sustained excellence.
"I don't think it is possible to perform consistently without having that mindset because if performance is your goal, then one can get satisfied after a while and stop working on their game," he explained.
His philosophy revolves around the pursuit of "betterment" rather than "excellence" due to the latter's elusive and undefined nature.
"It has always been my motto to chase betterment and not excellence because I honestly don't know what the definition of excellence is.
"There is no limit to it, nor is there a set standard that when you reach here you have achieved excellence. So, I try to work towards betterment every day, so that would be a better word to use. And yes, performance becomes a byproduct because your mindset is how do I make the team win from here," Kohli said.
In this year's World Cup, Kohli stands as the second-highest run-scorer, trailing South Africa's Quinton de Kock by a margin of 53 runs. Notably, his century against Bangladesh has brought him within striking distance of breaking Sachin Tendulkar's record for the most centuries in One-Day International (ODI) cricket, with just two more needed to achieve the historic milestone.
Kohli's unrelenting commitment to ongoing self-improvement is a driving force behind his current success and his distinguished cricketing journey.
(With inputs from PTI)
