I don't think I played at this level for 2-3 years: Kohli

With knocks of 135, 102 and 65*, Virat Kohli produced a series to rival his very best, earning his 20th Player of the Series award in international cricket. By his own admission, it was the best he has played in recent memory.

"Playing the way I have in this series has been the most satisfying thing for me. I don't think I have played at this level for a good 2-3 years now and I feel really free in my mind. Just the whole game is coming together nicely," he said following India's nine-wicket series-deciding win over South Africa.

There was evidence of that freedom as he struck 12 sixes in the series, three more than the next best. "When I play freely, then I know I can hit sixes. So, I just wanted to have some fun because I was batting well, just take a bit more risk. Just push my own boundaries and see where we go. There's always levels you can unlock and you just need to take a risk," he said.

It started at Ranchi where Kohli struck his 52nd ODI hundred, setting up a 17-run win for India, and he pinned it as his favourite knock of the series. "I hadn't played a game since Australia. Just to come out and you know when you start hitting the ball well. And also, just how your energy is on the day. You just feel so confident of taking risks. And when they come off, of course, it unlocks, as I said, that zone as a batsman which you are craving for. So, Ranchi was very special for me because it just opened me up in a way that I haven't felt for a while. I am just grateful for how these three games have gone," he said.

It doesn't, however, always 'come off' as Kohli has learned in his long career. "When you play for that long, 15-16 years, of course, you are going to have many phases where you doubt your ability. Especially as a batsman because you are literally relying on one mistake. So, you tend to go into a space where you feel like maybe I am not good enough, the nerves take over. That's the beauty of sport, especially a skill like batting where you have to keep overcoming that fear," he reflected.

"Every ball that you play, and eventually play a long innings, you get into a zone again where you can start playing confidently. So, it's a whole journey of learning and getting to know yourself better and becoming better as a person along the whole way," he added.

Kohli said being a batter has been a big part of his personal growth. "It just improves you as a person in general and your whole temperament becomes much better and balanced over so many years. So, yes, I have had many phases where I have doubted myself and I haven't been shy to admit that. So, I think it's a pretty human part of anyone's journey for that long," he noted.

Now a senior member of the team alongside Rohit Sharma, Kohli said moments like a decider bring the best out of them. "It's always brought the best out of us over the years. That's what we play our cricket for. You don't want it to be 1-1. But when it is 1-1 and it's a decider, you get excited. I want to make a play today. I want to make a dent into the game. And I want to do something special for the team. That's what we have always done over so many years," he explained.