King Kohli can push till the 2028 LA Olympics | Opinion

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Longevity in cricket is defined by a player's own will and skill. That was the message from Virat Kohli's frank and forthright interview with Isa Guha on Saturday (March 15).

There is, almost, no facet which Kohli has not touched upon in the interview. From the disappointment in the BGT Series Down Under to the hunger he still has to play top quality cricket, Kohli opened up.

The calm appearance and answering in measured words do sum up his state of mind. It is not easy to flop in a major Test series Down Under. Kohli has hinted, he may not visit Australia again for a Test series, since that will be many years away.

Yet, nowhere has Kohli suggested he is walking into sunset at any point of time, soon. It is now clear he and skipper Rohit Sharma will push into 2027 as well, when the ODI World Cup will happen.

Having given up the T20 international format, the task before Kohli, immediately, is the Indian Premier League, starting in less than a week. For a man who is truly a legend at the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, in his 18th season, Kohli knows he will lead, despite not being the official leader.

That is something which the RCB think-tank and Kohli himself have assigned to Rajat Patidar. Kohli spoke less on the IPL. He really does not need to, since his commitment is to the RCB cause with the fond hope the team can do well this time.

The whole IPL dynamics has changed this time with so many teams wearing a new look, from captaincy to men who form the team. Kohli knows RCB have not won an IPL title. The dream continues, with fans always hopeful.

What is heartening to note, Kohli has no grudges against anyone. If he and Rohit were in a hurry to pull down the shutters on their T20 international careers after the ICC World Cup last year, they are settled now.

Despite the talk of 'getting old' and so on, where trolls have been brutal, Kohli does not care. He is here to stay is the message he has sent out in his video interview. The cricket calendar is choc a bloc. The IPL is in itself demanding and the schedule punishing.

Kohli spoke on diet and how it was his own decision to eat healthy food, not having to be told. The adaptations he has made were by choice, not compulsion.

On the immediate task ahead, after the IPL, the Test tour to England will be a challenge for Kohli and Rohit Sharma. And both are ready for it. Where there is a similar line in the two captains, past and present, speaking on similar lines, is wanting to extend their careers.

Everyone knows the 2027 ICC ODI World Cup is important for India. It is expected, Kohli will push towards it. That entails a lot of hard work in terms of fitness, restrictions on food and more. But he has no problems with it. In fact, he likes the discipline every facet of life.

That brings one to the question whether King Kohli can be part of the Indian team for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Kohli had answered that part smartly, saying he was not returning to T20 international cricket. Yet, when he said if there is just one match left and India can go for gold in the Olympics, he could go and get the medal.

That statement is tongue-in-cheek, more than loaded. If ICC boss Jay Shah has his way and the BCCI beckons Kohli in 2028, anything can happen. Was not social media and media speculating Kohli and Rohit Sharma were to retire last Sunday after the Champions Trophy final!