R Ashwin hits back at those who took a dig at Virat Kohli's cover drive, says 'his class has not gone anywhere'

R Ashwin hits back at those who took a dig at Virat Kohli's cover drive, says 'his class has not gone anywhere'
India's Ravichandran Ashwin speaks with his teammate Virat Kohli (R) as bad light stops play during the fourth day of the first Test against New Zealand at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on October 19, 2024.

Story Highlights:

R Ashwin said that ODI cricket is Virat Kohli's best format.

Ashwin talked about Kohli's dismissals during Australia tour.

Ashwin believes the maiden Champions Trophy ton will increase Kohli's confidence.

Many former cricketers were concerned about Virat Kohli's form going into the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. After the Perth ton, Kohli could not do much with the bat in Australia and there was a pattern to his dismissals behind the stumps. He was dismissed cheaply on Ranji Trophy return and scored one fifty from three ODIs against England. He was not impressive in the run chase against Bangladesh getting out to leg-spinner Rishad Hossain but roared back to form against his favourite opposition, Pakistan. After his maiden Champions Trophy ton, Ravichandran Ashwin said that ODI is Kohli's best format and that his form did not go anywhere.

“I never had any doubt about Virat’s quality. When we were playing in Australia, people were criticizing that he was nicking the ball in the slips. People should understand that there was grass on the wicket and it was red ball cricket and he was nicking in Test match cricket. And there was so much talk over that. One gets out in the slips, one gets out clean bowled and one also is out as LBW. He was getting out in slips. Okay What is there in that? I don’t read massively into it. Virat’s class has not gone anywhere. I always said Virat Kohli’s engine room is ODI cricket. I am glad he is playing ODI cricket and this well could be his second coming. His confidence will only increase,” said Ashwin on his Youtube channel Ash ki Baat.

 

 

Ashwin said that he had a gut feeling that Kohli will score a hundred against Pakistan. He lauded his former teammate for reaching 14,000 ODI runs at a rapid rate.

“We were saying prior to the match that it could be Virat Kohli’s game and I had a good gut feeling. What an absolute stellar knock by Virat Kohli. 51st ODI hundred and 14,000 runs in ODI cricket, 60-70 matches less than the previous best batsman. What more can I say? He is an amazing player,” said Ashwin.

 

 

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There has been much debate about Kohli's cover drive. The batter himself admitted that it has been his weakness in last few years despite being the most productive shot. Ashwin believes that it is Kohli's 'biggest strength'.

“I would talk about one cover drive in the match. He hit the extra cover drive showing that it’s his biggest strength That cover drive between cover and mid off and the way he caressed the Haris Rouf delivery was fantastic. Another one was where Virat carssed the on the up little outside ball to the left of extra cover for boundary beating the sweeper cover. When Virat Kohli is on song, this cover drive does all the talking. Virat does not do any of the talking,” said the 38-year-old.

 

 

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Kohli's ODI record vs next opponent

With New Zealand beating Bangladesh on February 24, the two semifinalists from Group A have been confirmed. Bangladesh and Pakistan have been officially knocked out of the tournament. India will take on New Zealand in their next group stage clash. Kohli has a good record against New Zealand in the format with 1,645 runs from 31 games at an average of 58.75, including six centuries and nine half-centuries.