New Delhi: Ravichandran Ashwin has heaped praise on Virat Kohli, describing his energy levels as “strange” for his age, while insisting that the powerful Indian continues to “walk the talk” even after stepping away from Tests and T20Is.Kohli celebrated his return to T20 cricket in style, smashing an unbeaten 69 off 38 balls to lead Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a dominant six-wicket win over Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL 2026 opener.
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Go beyond boundaries with our YouTube channel. Subscribe now!Ashwin was particularly shocked by Kohli’s approach and intensity at the crease. “He walks the talk,” Ashwin said on the JioHotstar show, highlighting how the veteran continues to set standards.“It’s like he’s putting on a show for people to see how the game is supposed to be played — play it hard and play it the way it’s supposed to be played,” he added.
Kohli’s knock came on the back of a prolific ODI run, where he had already shown impressive form against New Zealand and South Africa earlier this year, underscoring his consistency across all competitions.“Strange at this age”But what caught Ashwin’s attention the most was Kohli’s unparalleled power between the wickets. He revealed, “I find him very strange at this age. I tell him that during our conversations.”Recalling a moment from the innings, Ashwin said: “He was batting with an odd 40, RCB were swinging, and he ran a single.
He stopped, and before the other hitter reached halfway, he was already looking for a second.Even with shorter boundaries, Kohli’s eagerness to press for more runs reflects his constant hunger, he added. “It shows the enthusiasm he still brings to the game,” Ashwin noted.Duffy effect supportAshwin also praised Jacob Duffy for his spell that set the match, and credited him with setting the tone with the ball.“When Duffy was selected, I said it was a great choice. He is at the peak of his career,” Ashwin said, adding that the player has coped smartly after the early setbacks.“Tactically, RCB were superior and executed those plans beautifully,” he noted.However, the spotlight remained on Kohli, whose relentless drive, according to Ashwin, continues to defy age and expectations.
