Indian cricket on top in Kohli’s priority list

Photo: @BCCI

Hyderabad: Virat Kohli clarified that he would not like to fix any date as far as his playing in IPL 10 is concerned. He will be taking the field only when he is "120 per cent fit," the India and Royal Challengers Bangalore captain made it clear.

Talking on the sidelines of the Royal Challengers-Sunrisers Hyderabad match - the IPL 10 opener - at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Wednesday, Kohli said he doesn't want to take any risk at all since the Champions Trophy in England is not too many days away from now.

"The priority is Indian cricket with the Champions Trophy coming up and I don't want to take any risks. I have not set any date and I will only return when I am 120 per cent fit.

"Having said that, it will be good if I can return to the field as early as possible," Kohli said.

It's frustrating for Kohli, who prides his commitment, to sit out because of injury on just one part of his body. "I would say I have got a bit used to it as I have already missed a Test match (in Dharamsala versus Australia).

"But it is frustrating that you can't play because of an injury on just one part of your body," he said.

Kohli, however, was pretty happy to see his India team-mate Yuvraj Singh in blazing form against the Royal Challengers. With Yuvraj likely to be included in the squad for Champions Trophy squad, it will augur really well for India and strengthen the team's middle order if the left-hander continues to perform this way.

"As I've said, the priority is Indian cricket. He (Yuvraj) got a hundred against England (in Cuttack) and also got runs in Calcutta. The confidence has just rubbed off... I just hope he carries on in this fashion," Kohli emphasised.

As per the latest BCCI update on his fitness, Kohli's condition will be assessed in the second week of this month before he is back in action. This suggests Kohli will have to be out in the Royal Challengers' next few matches as well.

It gets a bit difficult for the three-time runners-up now that AB de Villiers too isn't fully fit to take the field. But even though Kohli is unable to be back and lead the side at the moment, he is ensuring to play the role of a motivator in order to make the Royal Challengers a charged-up unit.

"The trick is to make the best of every minute and although the minutes are not mine today, it'll definitely be yours.Go#RCB! #ThisIsYourTime," Kohli wrote on his Twitter handle.

The skipper certainly will be happier if the Royal Challengers can make this their time.