Virat Kohli has learnt to remain cool and not be desperate during bad times.

Between November 2019 and September 2022, Kohli didn’t score a single international hundred. The period taught him not to make things complicated and stay attached to the game.

“The one thing I learnt was desperation doesn’t get you anywhere,” Kohli said in Guwahati after his 45th ODI hundred on Tuesday. “The game still remains very simple. It’s when we start complicating things with our own attachments, our own desires... I think when that perspective goes off, you start putting yourself in a space where everything just keeps spiralling downwards.

“And it’s only that detachment, in the real sense... where you go out there playing without any fear, playing for the right reasons, almost playing every game like it’s your last game and being happy about it, not being sad about it. These are the things that I learnt.

“I cannot hold on to things. The game is going to move on, it’s going to keep going on, many players have played in the past as well. I am not going to play forever. So what I am trying to hold on to, what I am trying to protect? So all these were the things that I realised. I am in a happy space... I am just enjoying my game and I just want to play with enjoyment as long as I play.”

Kohli’s 113 off 87 balls helped India reach 373/7, which proved too much for Sri Lanka.

“I don’t think there was anything different that I personally prepared like,” Kohli said.“My preparation always stays the same, my intent always stays the same.”

Shubman Gill, who scored 70 off 60 balls, said he enjoyed the faith reposed on him by the team management.

“It feels good when the team captain backs you,” Gill said. “This was the conversation in the practice as well, that I will be playing. Rahul(Dravid) bhai also told me to just play my natural game...whatever I have been doing, continue doing that.

“I was definitely disappointed when I got out on 70 because I had done all the hard work to get going and get a big one for the team.”