I do not consider myself the best player ever: Virat Kohli

Star cricketer Virat Kohli has reflected on his standing among cricket's greatest players, emphasising that different eras have produced remarkable performers with varying statistical achievements. The India batter made these remarks as he prepared for the upcoming ODI series against the West Indies, which begins on Sunday.

The batting maestro addressed the question of whether he considers himself the best player to have ever played the sport. He acknowledged the accomplishments of cricketers across different periods while recognising the varying nature of their records and impact.

"I do not consider myself the best ever. Different players have existed in different times of the sport, and they have done some amazing things but might not have accumulated those kinds of numbers, and some have numbers which are way better than mine. But I guess, apart from this, everyone's main goal eventually is to create enough impact," Kohli told JioStar.

Longevity and sustained motivation

Kohli expressed gratitude for a career spanning almost 19 years at the international level. He reflected on the combination of factors that have sustained his performance over such an extended period, emphasising the importance of motivation and fitness alongside experience and game awareness.

"I have been fortunate enough to have played for so long, and of course, when you are motivated to do well over that period, you end up performing more often than not. But eventually, the end goal has always been to contribute towards the betterment of the team and take the team towards the result that we want.

"As long as that answer is yes, and you mix up experience, your fitness, game awareness and motivation all together. So, I am blessed that it is still there, and I continue to be excited to play for the country, which is a great honour," Kohli said.

In six innings during 2026, Kohli has demonstrated consistent form, accumulating 384 runs at an average of 64.00 with a strike rate exceeding 106. His recent performances include one century and three fifties. At Thiruvananthapuram, Kohli has an unbeaten record in two ODIs, having scored 199 runs without dismissal, including an unbeaten 166 off 110 balls against Sri Lanka in January 2023.

Career milestones and records

Kohli's career statistics underscore his sustained excellence across international cricket. He has scored 54 ODI centuries and accumulated over 28,000 international runs across all formats. In ODI cricket specifically, he has amassed 14,941 runs in 314 matches and 302 innings at an average of 58.59, with 54 centuries and 79 fifties. His highest ODI score stands at 183.

The 37-year-old is on the verge of reaching the 15,000-run milestone in ODI cricket, sitting just 59 runs away from that landmark. Once achieved, he will become only the second player to reach that figure, after Sachin Tendulkar's 18,426 ODI runs. Kohli currently has 85 centuries across all international formats and requires 15 more to reach the 100-century mark.

In List-A cricket, Kohli is two centuries away from breaking Sachin Tendulkar's all-time record of 60 centuries, currently standing at 59. He is also two centuries short of Tendulkar's record of 42 centuries scored at home, with Kohli having 41 home centuries to date. Against the Caribbean side specifically, Kohli has scored nine centuries in 41 innings. He will look to add to the tally in the upcoming series, with the first ODI to be played on Sunday, September 27, at the Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram.