More than two months after his last ODI, Virat Kohli returned with an unbeaten 139 off 88 balls, a display of complete command and ruthless efficiency that had the visiting West Indians totally outclassed.

During the innings, Kohli also crossed 15,000 ODI runs. But for the 37-year-old, the landmark was secondary to doing the job India needed from him.

“My focus has never been on these milestones. It’s been about focusing on situations, doing the job for the team. Obviously, I feel very grateful and blessed for having played so long. Keeping my head down… So many people want to be here; we are blessed to be here,” Kohli told the broadcasters after the eight-wicket win.

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The last 12 months have seen Kohli find another gear in white-ball cricket. He said the challenge of scoring quicker had given him something new to work towards.

“I got a challenge at this stage of my career to up the ante, play a gear or two higher, exciting for me to work on, excites me when you have to unlock a new version in your career, be it playing for India or in the IPL. To follow a free mind, you need a fit body. Then I can visualise my game and execute it the way I did tonight,” he said.

That evolution has a clear destination. With the ODI World Cup just over a year away, Kohli knows his goal but wants to enjoy the journey as well.

“The World Cup is a year away; I know what my goal is. I just needed to work on different aspects of the game… Run from boundary to boundary, show intensity, keep ticking those boxes, I just want to enjoy every day,” he said.

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That perspective has become a recurring theme for Kohli, with the former India captain stressing the importance of remembering where his journey began.

“We need to look back once and look where we came from. We tend to forget that with the hustle of the world, and the attention and the fame, it’s easy to forget where we came from. I enjoy each and every moment out there I play for India. Could have been a possibility that I wouldn’t have been standing here, could have never played for India.

“Keep working hard, put a smile on my face, and make other people smile as well. Don’t think about all the other stuff outside the field when you get on it; put your body on the line; you have to do it, there’s no excuses,” he added.