Virat Kohli reveals never-heard-before details on his lean patch: 'I was very cranky, it was not fair on Anushka'

A remarkably eloquent Virat Kohli mitted being in complete denial about his "vulnerabilities" and "frustrations" during his poor run of form, which in turn also me him "cranky" and "snappy" with his family and friends.

Kohli smashed his 45th ODI hundred, a 87-ball 113, to guide India to a 67-run win over Sri Lanka in opening game here on Tuesday.

34-year-old batsman h scored an identical 113 against Banglesh in his final ODI of 2022 and has w 73 international hundreds with last three coming in a of four months after a near three year lull.

"In my case, in denial, frustration was creeping in. I was very cranky, very snappy in my . It was t fair on (wife) Anushka (Sharma), my closed ones, its t fair on people who support you. So I h to take responsibility and kind of put things in perspective," Kohli told teammate Suryakumar Yav in an interview for bcci.tv.

Kohli reiterated need to be away from his primary passion in order to rekindle it and feel hungry once again.

"I was far off from my cricket. My attachments, my desire, h totally taken over. That's when I realised that I can't be away from who I am. I have to be true to myself. Even when I am vulnerable, I am t playing well, I am worst player around, I have to accept it. I can't be in denial," Kohli mitted his frailties.

In fact, he h a word of vice for Surya, who is in form of his life as far as T20Is are concerned.

"Sometimes what happens, you (Surya) will also experience it as you play more and more w, people look at you differently. When Surya goes out to play, people will say that Surya will do it. To keep up with it is an intense process," he told his junior colleague about weight of expectations that he has carried for more than a dece w.

One only realises downside when form deserts a player, said Kohli.

"When your cricket is going well, all se things flow well but whenever re is a slight dip, in my case, frustration started creeping in because I wanted to play in a certain way but my cricket was t allowing me to play like before." Kohli said that he would like to build on his good form having started new year with a hundred.

"I am just happy... in last two years I didn't have such a start," Kohli said.

"It was first match of year and I got a century, so hopefully, I can build on this because it is also a World Cup year and re is a big Test series coming against Australia.

"When you score runs in any match, it gives you confidence. I am happy I was able to almost bat through innings, to give team 20-30 extra runs with dew coming in. I am just happy and excited to play." Kohli stressed on need to get away and comeback refreshed, an approach that has helped him get rejuvenated.

"Sometimes your mindset goes up and down when you play so much, but keeping that mental freshness is helping me." former India skipper h endured an extended lean patch for last few years and also took a month off from game last year before returning to score his first hundred in 1020 days in September against Afghanistan in T20 Asia Cup.

Kohli continued his magnificent run in T20 World Cup in Australia, scoring 205 runs to be named ICC Men's Player of 'Month for October'. He n smashed his 44th ODI hundred in December last year.

"When I returned relaxed in Asia Cup, I started enjoying training again, which is how I have always played cricket," he said.

So I would say that if you feel even a bit of desperation n take two steps back, rar pushing more and more because it will only go away from you."