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Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif couldn't help but shower praise on Virat Kohli after the batting legend hit his 85th international century during the third ODI against New Zealand. Even though Kohli's remarkable innings came in a losing effort, he held his ground at the crease, showing incredible composure amid India's batting collapse in the series finale at Holkar Stadium in Indore. 

As for Kohli, he’s made the move to London with his family and only returns to play for India and in the IPL. There have been discussions about his consistency since he’s already retired from Tests and T20Is, but Kohli has certainly wowed everyone with his ODI performances. Kaif mentioned that Kohli has become a player who comes in, scores runs, and then heads back to London. 

"Virat has become that player who is seen once in a while now. But he comes, scores runs, and then goes back to London. It has become like that. He comes, scores, and goes. It is not easy to score so consistently when you are not playing regularly. But it is his passion, his fitness, his pride to play for the country, his knowledge of the game, and his own. preparation. He has proved it," he said on his YouTube channel.

Kaif also feels that Kohli doesn’t really need to play domestic cricket, given his passion for the game. Recently, he played for Delhi in two Vijay Hazare Trophy matches, where he smashed a century, helping Delhi secure victories in both games. 

"There is no need for him to play domestic now. Anyone can get match practice, but the passion he has, it is not available in any market. Where will you get that from? Even in the last game, he was the hope. Virat will single-handedly win against 10 players in front of him, too," he added.

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Looking ahead, Kohli will be back in action for the Indian Premier League, where the 37-year-old will aim to defend the title with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). He’s also set to don the Indian jersey for the ODI series against Afghanistan, which is expected to visit India for a three-match series in June, according to the Future Tours Program for 2023-27, although the schedule hasn’t been confirmed yet. 

Virat Kohli’s current approach shows a player who’s thoughtfully navigating his career at this point. Even though he’s stepped back from Tests and T20Is, he’s still been putting up impressive numbers in ODIs, putting any doubts about his consistency to rest.

As Mohammad Kaif noted, Kohli’s love for the game shines through, even if he’s not playing domestic matches regularly. His recent century for Delhi in the Vijay Hazare Trophy was a solid reminder of his readiness when it counts. With the IPL on the horizon and an ODI series against Afghanistan coming up later this year, Kohli is clearly focused on making a significant impact in these important tournaments.