Virat Kohli can play for at least five more years: Ex-Indian cricketer

Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif has stated that if the Indian talismanic batter Virat Kohli is motivated and genuinely wants to play, he could play for at least five more years in the 50-over format.

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Speaking exclusively on his YouTube channel, Kaif asserted that Kohli could play the ICC ODI World Cup 2031 in India and Bangladesh if his passion stays intact, adding that he has achieved everything in the world and there is nothing left to achieve. 

"Look, what I see is that Virat Kohli, at the very least, if he is motivated and genuinely wants to play, if he is enjoying himself, stepping out in the India jersey to chase while the crowd is making noise, that feeling itself is an addiction. If that passion stays intact, then I think he can play for at least five more years. I am not talking about this World Cup, I am talking about the one around the next World Cup cycle. Now, do not say that he will be 40 or 42 years old. He is Virat Kohli. From here, I can see at least five years,” Mohammad Kaif said on his YouTube channel.

"If he himself remains motivated, and I am not talking about the selectors here, I am not talking about the coaches here. This battle is Virat Kohli’s own battle with himself. If that passion remains, because he has already achieved everything in the world, there is nothing left to achieve. He has now won the World Cup and the IPL as well. Even in the IPL, which RCB had never won, his batting contribution was there. When his bat fired, everything followed. As a captain in Test cricket, he achieved everything," he added.

"But when a player achieves so much, he often feels like saying, ‘Alright, it is time to stop now.’ However, if he remains motivated and wants to win one or two more World Cups, and his form is good, and he is enjoying his batting, which is clearly visible, then all of us watching his batting are seeing a different Virat Kohli. If he is enjoying his batting and enjoying playing match-winning innings, then I feel he can play for another four to five years in this form,” he concluded.

After his two consecutive ducks against Australia Down Under, Virat Kohli has displayed exceptional form in the 50-over format, scoring seven consecutive fifty-plus scores, which includes a player of the series performance against South Africa at home.

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