'They hate leaving their homes': Dale Steyn hails Virat Kohli, points out key behind success

Former South African fast bowler Dale Steyn expressed deep admiration for Virat Kohli's incredible dedication to cricket.

Virat Kohli delivered a commanding 52nd ODI century in the series opener against South Africa. Steyn highlighted how Kohli's mindset sharply contrasts with most players his age, who often prefer to stay close to home and their families rather than spending extensive time on the road.

"When you speak to most 37 or 38-year-olds, they say they hate leaving home, their dog, their kids. But he's in a place mentally where he's eager to be out there playing for India," Steyn told JioStar.

He observed that Kohli's energy is clear in his running between wickets, his alertness in the field, and his diving efforts. Steyn emphasized that Kohli's mental

state is unusually youthful and fresh for someone with such a long international career.

Having played over 300 ODIs across 15-16 years, Kohli carries a wealth of experience "inside him. It's in his body and mind. "

According to Steyn, Kohli's preparation remains unimpaired even under adverse conditions, like arriving at a venue after several days of rain. "He's mentally strong, visualises well, and can see the ball onto the bat," which Steyn identifies as the hallmark of the world's best batsmen. Kohli's confidence stems from this vast experience, having been "out there so many times," and importantly, from his enthusiasm. "A key thing he said is that he's excited about playing," Steyn added.

In line with Steyn's view, Kohli himself recently reflected on his approach at this stage in his career following his 83rd international hundred. He downplayed elaborate preparations, stating: "I have never been a believer of a lot of preparation. All my cricket has been mental. "

He stressed that maintaining peak fitness is crucial: "I work physically very hard, as long as my fitness levels are up and I am feeling well, it's good. "

Kohli explained that after playing more than 300 ODI matches, staying "in touch with the game" through regular practice-batting in the nets for an hour or two-is enough to keep his form and confidence steady.

The star India batter looked at his fluent best in the Ranchi ODI and wil be aiming to continue his purple patch in the last two matche of the series.