IND vs NZ, Champions Trophy 2025: Virat Kohli, defining age, longevity and relevance at 300 ODIs | Opinion

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Cricket and statistics have a passionate, intense love affair. Be it batting, bowling or even fielding, numbers play an important part. Sometimes, sadly, the numbers become an obsession and a player's value is judged just by numbers.

One man who knows what it is to face the music when the numbers are not going in his favour is Virat Kohli. On Sunday (March 2, 2025), King Kohli plays his 300th ODI match, a proud moment indeed.

For someone with 51 centuries in the 50-over format, which defined white-ball cricket before the advent of T20 version, ODIs have been special. Sample this, from Sachin Tendulkar to MS Dhoni and Mohd Azharuddin to Rahul Dravid, they defined longevity in the ODIs, with records to boot. At that time, it was either Tests or ODIs, purely.

Virat Kohli has been through it all, Tests, ODIs and T20 internationals. He retired from the T20 internationals last year after the highs of the triumph in the ICC World Cup. However, he is still there in the club version of T20 for RCB in the IPL.

When Kohli, still called 'Cheeku' by many in Dubai, steps out for the 300th match on Sunday against New Zealand in the Champions Trophy, he will not be thinking too much about the long voyage. To have made his ODI debut in 2008 and still be relevant, revered and loved is important.

Rewind to the master class he produced against Pakistan last Sunday, almost single-handedly he scripted the chase for India. To have scored 51 centuries plus 14k runs in ODIs alone does not define Kohli.

He has been the 'Ironman' of cricket to have lasted it physically, mentally and emotionally. He has seen it all, the good, bad and ugly. And when it comes to ugly, those hacks who trolled him on social media and with the microphone in their hands for TV commentary, Sunil Gavaskar and Harsha Bhogle included, have been insensitive.

Kohli does not care about all these folks, actually. If a superstar cricketer like Kohli starts paying attention to riff-raffs and commentators who are nothing more than employees on the rolls of the BCCI, it would be foolish. He plays cricket with passion, enjoys it and challenges himself.

The ODI format may be out of vogue for many and a curse as well for a team like England but Kohli has created great moments in this format. He almost owns it.

People keep reminding him he is getting old at 36. Kohli knows the best how much harder he has to work at 36 to be fit. He is the paragon of fitness and has made many sacrifices to get till here.

Kohli has been honest in his admission he has to work harder on fitness. The sacrifices made are enormous and not everyone can do it. He looks trim, just like the way he maintains his stylish beard. He has no flab on his belly and looks the Alpha Male with tattoos adoring his arms as well.

Like most sane, successful men wanting peace in life, he has embraced spirituality in life at large, where his wife, or should we say consort, Anushka Sharma plays such an important role.

The two are seen visiting historic temples, be it Lord Shiva or Lord Krishna, and also taking blessings from 'Seers and Babas,' who are a source of positive energy. Add to it the love from millions of fans in India, Pakistan and the world over, Kohli is special. 300 ODIs is a big number.

How long can Kohli keep pushing himself, he knows best. To challenge youngsters and be relevant in Team India at 36, that is defining. Any day, he is one cricketer who misses the least practice sessions or a match on account of fitness. Keep watching.