Away from attention, Virat loves to play abroad

Constantly in the glare with fans, media and friends seeking his time, Virat Kohli loves his solitude. And it’s no wonder he likes nothing better than packing his bags for a tour.

After all, it’s not every day that Kohli can roam the streets with no one to bother him, seek an autograph or photograph. This is why the India skipper loves travelling, playing abroad.

“There’s so much attention on you back home that I love travelling and playing in other countries around the world. I totally love just spending some normal time,” Kohli told the media.

England thus should be a perfect destination, but the last time Kohli came here on a tour, he felt wretched and lonely.

On that 2014 tour, India lost the five-Test series 1-3. Struggling against James Anderson and Co in seaming conditions, Virat Kohli mustered a paltry 134 runs in 10 innings at an average of 13.4. The poor run continued in the ODIs where he aggregated 54 runs in four innings, averaging 18.

“This was one tour I wasn’t able to do well. And that hurt me in a way I wasn’t able to contribute for the team.

“That could have been in India as well. But because you want to succeed everywhere you play, it motivates you even further to come back and do well in those places you haven’t,” he said.

But Kohli is determined not to be consumed by thoughts of making amends for 2014.

“It’s no sort of feeling of vengeance or anything like that. For me it’s a game of cricket. I surely have evolved from then to now, mentally as a player, and my skill as well. I like to take every game the same way regardless of where I play in the world.

“England obviously brings a lot of challenges as far as batting is concerned and those are challenges that I would certainly love to overcome. Personally for my growth as a batsman, not for anything else, not to prove a point to anyone, but personally for my satisfaction at the end of my career, I would like to feel that, yes, I’ve done well everywhere that I played in the world.”

The first thing Kohli felt like doing on landing on Thursday was take a walk on the London streets. “Just to go for a walk and have a coffee, but I thought sleep might be better because of the hectic day forward.