India vs New Zealand ODIs: Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin attributes India's batting mogul Virat Kohli's resurgence in form to a rediscovery of the rampant enthusiasm that drove him as a young cricketer, rather than any technical overhaul.

Ashwin underscored that Kohli's remarkable return to form in the 50-over format is a testament to the power of a strong mental state.

Kohli's astral form continued in the first ODI against New Zealand, as he narrowly missed his 85th international hundred, scoring a quick 93 off 91 deliveries in Vadodara on January 11.

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“It looks like nothing is going on in his mind. You asked me what he has changed — he hasn’t changed anything; he is just not thinking about anything. He made a decision that he just wants to enjoy his cricket. It seems like he is batting with the freedom of his childhood, combined with the experience of so many years," Ashwin said on his YouTube show.

“When you take joy from the game, and when you are in the right space in your life, you can play like this,” he added.

For his anchoring knock, Kohli received the Player of the Match award in the first ODI against New Zealand, and the star batter attributed his regal innings to his strategic approach to batting at an accelerated tempo.

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“Honestly, the way I’m playing, I’m not thinking about milestones. If we were batting first, I’d have gone harder. Experience does kick in, but the main thing was to get the team ahead and into a winning position. I bat at No. 3, and if the situation is tricky, I try to counterattack without playing outrageous shots," Kohli said.

Kohli's outstanding form was on display during his return to domestic cricket in December, where he made a message with scores of 131 and 77 in two Vijay Hazare Trophy matches for Delhi, marking his first appearance in the competition in 16 years.