Veteran Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has shared his candid thoughts on Virat Kohli’s surprising decision to retire from Test cricket, suggesting that mental burnout might have played a significant role in the 36-year-old stepping away from the format he once ruled. Despite being one of the fittest athletes in world cricket, Kohli announced his retirement from Tests on May 12, sending shockwaves through the cricketing community.
Ashwin, who has played alongside Kohli for over a decade, believes that the same relentless intensity that defined Kohli’s career may have ultimately taken a toll on his mental reserves. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin reflected on the passion and drive that Kohli brought to every aspect of the game, from batting to captaincy.
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“What made Virat special was his relentless energy—he brought it to everything he did,”Ravichandran Ashwin said. “Sometimes I’d just look at him and wonder, ‘What did he even have for breakfast today?’ But I can’t help thinking that maybe he had one or two more years of Test cricket left in him.”
Here is the video of the run out which Ravichandran Ashwin recalled:
Ashwin pondered whether Kohli’s trademark intensity, which had been his biggest strength, may have also led to fatigue over time. “Perhaps he felt he could no longer go full throttle every moment on the field. That kind of constant high-octane energy isn’t easy to sustain.”
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Even when Virat Kohli struggled for runs post-2020, averaging just above 30 in Tests, Ravichandra Ashwin believes his influence on the team was profound. “Virat’s presence, even when he wasn’t at his peak, lifted the team. His drive for excellence, though at times a burden, still made a difference.”
He concluded by underlining the irreplaceable value of experience: “You can’t teach experience. Even when his bat was quiet, his energy spoke volumes.”
