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"Last 15-20 years, not rested at all": Virat Kohli silences critics over rust, fitness concerns

Akshita Patel

Virat Kohli shrugs off fitness concern [Source: @BCCI/X.com]Virat Kohli shrugs off fitness concern [Source: @BCCI/X.com]

Virat Kohli is back, and he's full of confidence. Ahead of India’s first ODI vs Australia, the 36-year-old batting great has shrugged off any talk about rustiness after his four-month break from competitive cricket.

Kohli's comeback comes after a successful IPL 2025 season in which he finally grabbed the trophy with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, a fairytale moment for the franchise and its fans. 

Since then, he’s spent time away from the pitch, catching up on life and recharging for yet another season of intense cricket.

Virat Kohli says he is fitter than ever

Speaking to Fox Cricket ahead of the first ODI in Perth, Virat Kohli made it clear that rest doesn’t mean rust. He explained how, in the past 15 years, he didn’t take significant rest at all.

“Well to be honest, the amount of cricket I’ve played over the last 15-20 years, I’ve actually not rested at all if that makes sense. I’ve probably played the most number of games in the last 15 years in international cricket, combining the IPL together as well. So for me, it was a very refreshing time off," Kohli said.

And the break seems to have done wonders, as Kohli claims that he is feeling fitter than ever. 

“I’m feeling as fit if not fitter than I’ve ever been before and yeah you can just feel the freshness when you know you can play the game and mentally you know what to do out there it’s just the physical preparation that really needs to be taken care of,” he added.

“At this stage I realised that if my body is fit, if my reflexes are there then the game awareness is already there, my body has to match up with it and that’s something that I try to keep up with, I live my life like that and yeah no issues at all, I’m feeling fresh here coming into Australia and moving really well in the nets and in the fiddling sessions as well so all good so far."

Interestingly, since 2010, Virat Kohli has featured in an incredible 535 of India’s 551 international matches, besides playing 238 IPL games. 

No other player in the modern era comes close to his consistency and workload. Even India’s captain Rohit Sharma, who also returns to the ODI setup after a brief break, trails behind with 444 international appearances.

The Perth match also holds special significance for Virat Kohli. It’s the venue where he last scored a Test century, a reminder of his dominance on Australian soil.