‘Verbals and sledging is not nasty anymore’: Virat Kohli tells AB de Villiers

Indian batting superstar Virat Kohli believes cricket has changed a lot after the IPL and the level of nastiness in players’ verbals and sledging has come down drastically. “The IPL has changed quite a few things. The cricket is still competitive but the verbals and the sledging is not nasty anymore. It has become a game of mutual respect and admiration. Still, you can say that they have the same hunger,” Kohli told AB de Villiers during a video interaction on the latter’s YouTube show.
Virat Kohli, who is known for his on-field aggression and zeal, also said, “The stuff which was too intense and things that created tension between the teams has significantly gone down, that’s what I have experienced this year but not the competitiveness.”
“I think it is a nice thing forward, it is progressive and if the tensions rise in tournaments like World Cups, you see that anyway. So, I think it is nice to have the camaraderie among the players,” he added.
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While reflecting on his recent hundred that ended the three-year century drought in Test cricket, Kohli said, “When I made the hundred and converted it into a big one, that gave me a sense of calmness, relaxation, and excitement again. You kind of become comfortable with your game, and your thinking and your heart is not rising before the next practice session. You eventually want to be in such a space. And that particular hundred gave me a grounded feeling back.”
“Just from a cricketing perspective. In life, I was pretty happy and relaxed. But when playing also, you want to be in that space as much as possible,” Kohli added.
Meanwhile, all eyes will be on Virat Kohli again on Wednesday when India face Australia in the third and final ODI of the series at Chennai. Kohli has scored 4 & 31 in the first two ODIs and the series is 1-1 as of now.