‘Virat Kohli had Test cricket left in him’: Ashwin's striking revelation revives ex-skipper's retirement talk

In 123 Tests, Kohli scored 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85, including 30 centuries and 31 fifties, with a highest score of 254*. Since his 2011 debut, he combined an aggressive mindset with remarkable consistency during his captaincy tenure, leading India to historic victories and setting new benchmarks, leaving behind a legacy as India’s most successful Test skipper.

Ravichandran Ashwin, who shared a dressing room with Kohli for years, revealed that he had personally told his former skipper there was still Test cricket left in him.

"I've directly told him that he had cricket left him in Test cricket. There was something left in Test cricket, but it’s okay, honestly. There is a problem in India about the perception," Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.

Also Read - ‘Virat Kohli will make it known to his critics’: Mohammad Kaif reckons Test retirement not been easy for RCB superstar

“Not an easy decision for Virat Kohli”

Continuing his thoughts on Kohli’s Test retirement, Ashwin reflected on his team-first approach and the difficult decision to step away from red-ball cricket, emphasising the respect and principles that defined his career.

“He has retired, I mean, even look at it from Virat's value and Virat's principle, he always kept team first. Even at press conferences, he always said that the team is very important, that we have got to win. He has said all this. And for him to say okay, I've taken a retirement, I want to come back, it’s not an easy decision for him to make, also, but I do certainly believe he had some cricket left," he added.

Click here to read article