Cricket
-Gaurav Sharma
Virat Kohli’s blunt comments on leaving Test cricket and facing constant evaluation have drawn strong support from former India teammate Ravichandran Ashwin. During a Royal Challengers Bengaluru podcast with Mayanti Langer, Kohli explained why he quit Tests after the Australia tour, saying the environment made him feel he had to justify his place after every match.
Kohli spoke during the ongoing IPL 2026 season, revealing he walked away from the longest format after that Australia series. The batter said the repeated demand to prove his worth had become unacceptable at this stage of a career filled with major contributions for India across formats and conditions.
Virat Kohli explained his departure from Test cricket stemmed from the pressure of constant evaluation, a sentiment Ravichandran Ashwin supports, noting senior players shouldn’t face repeated validation demands.
Virat Kohli Test retirement and Ashwin’s strong backing
Reacting on his YouTube channel, Ravichandran Ashwin, who ended his international career midway through India’s tour of Australia in late 2024, firmly backed Kohli’s stance. The off-spinner said senior players, who have delivered over years, carry huge mental loads while being judged after almost every performance by people outside the dressing room.
Ashwin echoed Kohli’s belief that established players should not be pushed into constant validation modes. He said veterans already know the demands of representing India and do not need repeated external reminders. Ashwin stressed that such pressure grows heavier late in a career, when bodies are tired but expectations from fans and experts stay very high.
Virat Kohli Test retirement, scrutiny and changing mindset
Sharing his own perspective, Ashwin said he related deeply to Kohli’s statement about no longer needing to prove anything. “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 said on his YouTube channel.
Ashwin went on to describe how attitudes shift with age and experience. “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,” he added.
Beyond Test cricket, Kohli also addressed continuing talk about a possible appearance at the 2027 ICC ODI World Cup. The batter expressed frustration with mixed signals on his future role, stressing that clear communication is vital if selectors or team management have different plans for that tournament cycle.
Kohli’s words on the podcast underlined that he no longer wants to play under constant doubt. “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,” were Kohli’s comments in the podcast, as he made it clear that he is in no mood to prove himself again, especially at this stage of his career. If pushed, he hinted at moving on from “this space”.
