Ravichandran Ashwin has thrown his weight behind Virat Kohli after the former India captain opened up about why he stepped away from Test cricket earlier than many expected. With IPL 2026 running in full swing, Kohli used a recent appearance on the Royal Challengers Bengaluru podcast to speak candidly, admitting that his decision to exit the longest format came after the Australia tour. He pointed to a feeling that, game after game, he was being pushed to justify his place—constantly asked, directly or indirectly, to prove he still belonged.
Ashwin, who himself had retired from international cricket in the middle of India’s tour of Australia in late 2024, responded with strong approval for Kohli’s viewpoint. The off-spinner framed Kohli’s comments as a familiar mental challenge, arguing that enduring constant scrutiny demands enormous fortitude, particularly from experienced players who have already delivered at the highest level for years.
On his YouTube channel, Ashwin said Kohli’s stance was correct, noting that there comes a point where the need to prove oneself stops making sense. “Virat said, ‘I don’t have to prove my work to anyone,’ and that’s absolutely right. Why, man? I also felt the same. There was nothing left to prove. Whom does he need to prove himself to after playing for so many years and winning so many matches for India?” Ashwin added.
The veteran spinner went further, suggesting that external criticism is often simply part of the job from the outside looking in. He explained that when players are younger, they can feel compelled to prove people wrong, but maturity changes the target of that motivation. “What people say from the outside is just their job. When you are young, there is often a strong urge to say, ‘I will prove you wrong.’ But maturity and wisdom come when you realize that the battle is not with anyone else, but with yourself. The moment you have that realization, life becomes very easy. I think Virat has reached that point. It is not easy to leave regrets behind,” Ashwin said.
Kohli’s podcast discussion also touched on the ongoing chatter about whether he would be involved in the 2027 ICC ODI World Cup. The batting star made it clear that he does not want to operate under a microscope again. “Either tell me on day one I am not good enough or I am not needed. But if I am made to feel like I need to constantly prove my worth and my value, then I am not in that space,” Kohli said, signalling that he is not looking to return to a mindset where he feels he must repeatedly validate his place, particularly at this stage of his career. He added that if the situation continues to push him in that direction, he would consider moving on from “this space.”
