Indian cricket superstar Virat Kohli has expressed frustration with broadcast coverage that focuses on trivial personal details rather than substantive analysis of the sport and athlete experiences.
Speaking at the Royal Challengers Bengaluru's Innovation Lab Indian Sports Summit, Kohli emphasized that cricket broadcasts should prioritize meaningful content. "A broadcast show needs to talk about the game and not what I ate yesterday for lunch or my favorite chole-bhature place in Delhi. You can't have that in cricket matches. Rather, you could talk about what an athlete is going through," Kohli stated.
The 36-year-old batting maestro, renowned for his exceptional fitness regimen often compared to sports icons Cristiano Ronaldo and Novak Djokovic, also addressed speculation about his future in the sport.
"Don't get nervous. I'm not making any announcements. As of now everything is fine. I still love playing the game," Kohli clarified, indicating he has no immediate retirement plans despite approaching the later stages of his career.
Kohli, who has won four ICC titles with India, expressed enthusiasm about cricket's inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, crediting the Indian Premier League with elevating the sport's global profile.
"To be Olympic champion would be an absolutely magnificent feeling. The IPL has definitely played a massive role in that as well. Now, it has gotten us to a stage where it's part of the Olympics," he said.
Despite announcing his retirement from T20 Internationals last year, Kohli hinted at a possible return specifically for the Olympic tournament. "For the Olympics, I don't know, maybe, if we are playing for the gold medal. I just might sneak in for one game, get a medal and come back home," he remarked.
The former India captain emphasized the historic significance of cricket's Olympic debut, noting it presents "a great opportunity for some of our guys" and highlighting that "both men and women play side by side as well."
Kohli's comments reflect both his passion for cricket's continued evolution and his desire for media coverage that respects the athletic achievements and challenges faced by players at the highest level of the sport.
