Have 8-10 years left at top, says Virat Kohli

New Delhi: Virat Kohli may be on top of the world after leading India to an all-win performance over Sri Lanka, but remains aware of his shelf life as a cricketer. By his own estimate, it could be around eight-10 years, which is why he is keen to maximise his potential, utilising the opportunity in pursuit of glory, individual or collective. “There’s no secret to raising the bar as such. A lot of us don’t realise how good we are or how much we can do,” Kohli said at an event here on Friday.

“We limit ourselves before even we begin. So you need to push yourself until you are done. That’s what I try to do because I have around eight more years, maximum 10 if I really work hard in my cricket life. After that I won’t be a cricketer any more.” The skipper capped off a hugely successful tour of Sri Lanka with a half-century (82), fashioning India’s seven-wicket win in the one-off Twenty20 in Colombo on Wednesday, completing a 9-0 rout of the islanders across all three formats of the game.

He also leads the ODI and T20 batting rankings, and is sixth in the Test charts. But the 28-year-old insisted he has miles to go before he quits, with each successful series spurring his hunger to achieve more. “You have to make the most of everything. That’s the mindset I carry on the field. Small things matter to me. What I eat, my level of fitness. It’s a very individual thing. Priority is very important. You need to prioritise your objectives, maintain focus. If I can inspire people to do that, I will be very happy,” he added. Kohli also said that increased spotlight on other sports meant India isn’t a one-sport nation any more. “India has made rapid strides as a sporting nation. The days of being a one-sport country are behind us,” he said.