Virat Kohli again demonstrated why he is among the most stable cricketers in the world, giving him a regular rest off the cricketing field as one of the reasons that keep him mentally alert and prevent burnout. The RCB legend came back to T20 cricket with a bang and shattered his 28th IPL half-century in a resounding six-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.

The five sixes and five boundaries that ensued in his unbeaten 69, where Kohli made the most of only 38 balls, led the chase with his usual control and calmness.

Amazingly, this was his first T20 in a year, since the IPL final last year, and there was no rustiness. Instead, Kohli appeared sharp, focused, and in control, which supported his ability to adapt and deliver despite the absence of the format.

“Breaks helped me stay fresh and excited,” says Virat Kohli after stunning return

Concerned the fears of a wide gap between T20 cricket, Virat Kohli told him that the biggest challenge in his 15-year career has been how to escape burnout and not lack match practice.

He also stressed the fact that well-timed breaks have played a critical role in keeping his mind fresh and keeping his interest in the game.

The 37-year-old clarified that he never goes out to play unless he feels 100 per cent ready, and every time, he comes back at 120 per cent.

As Kohli says, the extra rest not only refreshes him psychologically but also enables him to stay at the best physical fitness so that he can remain at the top of his performance at all times.

Kohli also emphasized that it is not his goal to just have a position in the team. Rather, he is more than determined to make a contribution and bring performances to the team. To him, remaining mentally active and physically fit are among the major ingredients that lead to good results on the field.

Reflecting on his return, Kohli disclosed that his recent performance in white-ball cricket was the one that made him not lose the rhythm even after the hiatus in T20. He pointed out that he did not have to reinvent his production or make new shots that he had not tried before, but his preparation and fitness training kept him in the background. The innings, he added, was the ideal stage to put the pedal to the metal and carry on with the momentum that was to be the case with the rest of the season.