Bengaluru: Well aware that he "can't keep going forever", Indian batting superstar Virat Kohli wants to give everything he has to his cricket career because he once he is done, he says he would be "gone" and won't be seen "for a while." Kohli's appetite for runs and centuries has already got him a record eighth ton in the IPL this season and he continues to lead the scoring charts with a mind-boggling 661 runs from 13 games for Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
In a video posted by RCB on social media, the 35-year-old said the desire to live a regret-free life keeps him going.
"I wanna give it everything I have till the time I play, and that's the only thing that keeps me going" 🤌
— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) May 15, 2024
Virat's emotional but promising words while talking at the @qatarairways Royal Gala Dinner. 🗣️#PlayBold #ನಮ್ಮRCB #IPL2024 pic.twitter.com/htDczGQpNf
"So, it's just about not leaving any undone business behind and not having any regrets later, which I'm very sure of I won't. Once I'm done, I'll be gone; you won't see me for a while."
"So, I want to give it everything I have till the time I play and that's the only thing that keeps me going," said Kohli when asked what keeps him hungry.
Kohli was picked by RCB soon after he led India to title triumph in the 2008 Under-19 World Cup and he has continued to be with the franchise ever since.
"I think, as sportsmen, we do have an end date to our careers, so I'm just working backwards, I don't want to finish my career thinking what if I had done this on that particular day because I can't keep going on and on forever," he added.
The former India captain is part of the Indian squad for the T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies beginning next month.
Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh had recently opined that RCB should think about giving back the team's captaincy to Kohli, saying he has an ideal combination of intent, commitment and aggression to take the side forward from the next season.
South African Faf du Plessis is currently leading RCB.
Kohli has featured in 113 Tests, 292 ODIs, and 117 T20Is. he has amassed over 26,000 international runs across formats.
Kohli holds the record for most runs in the history of T20 World Cups with 1141 to his credit.
India are placed in Group A of the tournament, alongside arch-foes Pakistan, Ireland, Canada and co-hosts USA.
They will begin their campaign on June 5 against Ireland at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York before taking on Pakistan on June 9.