'Angry celebrations are a thing of the past' - Virat Kohli recalls his rough patch ahead of 2023 ODI World Cup

As India begins their 2023 ODI World Cup journey against Australia on October 8, former captain Virat Kohli is one of the players to watch out for at the marquee event. The batting maestro is in tremendous form and he is going to play a premier tournament of his stronghold format. However, this is likely to be the 34-year-old's last participation in the quadrennial event, and hence, he will be looking to lift his second coveted title.

Kohli, along with Ravichandran Ashwin, are the only two Indian players who were part of the 2011 ODI World Cup-winning squad. The batting stalwart is on the cusp of breaking legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar's record of the most number of ODI centuries. He is just three centuries away from reaching this milestone and given his current form, the right-hander is likely to smash it in the upcoming showpiece event.

However, not many have forgotten Kohli's 'career best' rough patch before he got back on track of record-breaking. A nearly three-year slump in form in all three formats of the game has hit the ace cricketer. However, he found his rhythm by ending a 1020-day wait for his 71st international hundred. Kohli smashed his maiden T20I century against Afghanistan in the 2022 Asia Cup and has since returned to normalcy.

Last two and a half years have taught me a lot: Kohli reflects on his rough patch 

But that phase taught Kohli a lot, as the batter himself revealed during a chat with the Cricket Governing Body ahead of India's first ODI World Cup warm-up match against England on Saturday, September 30.

"The last two and a half years have taught me a lot. Those angry celebrations are a thing of the past. I have had many suggestions, lots of advice has come my way; people were telling me I was doing this wrong, that wrong, said Kohli.

“I picked out all the videos from the best time I had, same initial movement, same approach towards the ball and it was just what was happening inside my head, I wasn't able to explain it to anyone," he added.