Former Indian off-spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin, said he doesn’t consider Virat Kohli the greatest Test cricketer India has ever had, even though Kohli is a complete player. Kohli has impressed in every area – batting, captaincy, attitude, and impact – with passion and style.
Ashwin’s comment came as a surprise to many fans, especially since Kohli recently shocked everyone by retiring from Test cricket.
Ashwin’s Admiration for Sachin Tendulkar and Kohli’s Greatness
Kohli scored 9,230 runs in 113 Tests, with 30 centuries and 29 fifties. As captain, he led India with determination and brought a new level of aggression and fitness to Test cricket.
Under Virat Kohli’s captaincy, India dominated both at home and overseas, including a historic first Test series win in Australia in 2018-19. He also led India to the top of the ICC Test rankings and holds the record for most Test wins (40) as Indian captain.
Ravichandran Ashwin said he avoids comparing players from different eras, but for him, Sachin Tendulkar remains number one as he’s been a lifelong fan. Still, he acknowledged that Kohli’s greatness is unquestionable.
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Ravichandran Ashwin told Vimal Kumar during an interaction, “I never compare across generations. For me, Sachin Tendulkar will always be number one. Because I was his fan since childhood. So, I would never put anyone ahead of Sachin Tendulkar. It doesn’t mean that Virat Kohli is less.”
Ashwin shared a moment that showed Virat Kohli’s unmatched energy on the field. In one match, Kohli sprinted after a slowly rolling ball from short mid-wicket, slid, and threw it back in one motion. Ashwin was amazed by his intensity and joked that he wanted to eat whatever fuels Kohli’s fire.
Ravichandran Ashwin’s Bold Take on Virat Kohli’s Test Cricket Legacy
Ashwin further explained, “I will give an instance of Virat Kohli. I am not sure if it was Jonny Bairstow or Joe Root. He hit a flick. Virat was in the short midwicket. And the ball was rolling slowly. There was a maximum of one run. If he had hit a deep mid-wicket fielder, it could have been two runs.”
He added: “He ran after the ball like a madman. But when I saw him, I was like, why is he running so fast? He ran and hit a slide, he turned and threw. He threw from under and even fell. He hit the stump, and the tits are unnoticed. I used to think, what does he eat? What do you eat? Give me whatever you eat.”
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Interestingly, Virat Kohli might return to England soon – but not for India. After retiring from Test cricket, he could play red-ball cricket for Middlesex at Lord’s. The club is reportedly interested in signing him for a stint at the historic ground.
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