Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has opened about Virat Kohli’s animated celebrations after his back-to-back hundreds against South Africa, as well as his presence in the forthcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy. According to Ashwin, this batting superstar has taken the talk surrounding him being a one-format player to heart and is hence determined to show his class on the field.
Since his return to international cricket in November following the Champions Trophy win, Kohli initially found it hard to get starts as he registered successive ducks in Australia. But he slowly regained form with an unbeaten 74 at Sydney in a dead rubber, before following that up with back-to-back hundreds against South Africa in the ongoing ODI series. His innings have been marked by extraordinary control against spin and pace alike, razor-sharp running between the wickets and even some renewed flair for aggressive celebrations, something which had been a little rare of late.
Ashwin, who has shared the dressing room with Kohli for several years, pointed out that talks between the batter and team management have been happening ever since Kohli had agreed to play the Vijay Hazare Trophy that starts on December 24. He thinks that the 37-year-old Delhi-born batter has absorbed the chatter over his ODI future and is now free to express himself.
“Why is Virat celebrating like that? What is he thinking, what has he gone through? Let’s not forget that Virat left Test cricket. Both were very synchronous. He loved Test cricket and wanted to play always, but he left because it was not only about his requirements. Whatever chatter was going on, and his lack of runs in Tests, we do not know what he wanted to do. To leave the sport is a big decision.”
“Now he has agreed to play Vijay Hazare, so communication is happening. In many ways, Virat must have thought, are these people doubting me? Are they doubting my ability? He is a very competitive person, which has helped him perform so much over the years. He must have taken it to heart that there are doubts regarding my skill and ability, and that I will show them now. Sometimes, in an attempt to desperately prove yourself, you can be out, and there is a chance that it happened with Virat as well in the past. But now, he must be telling you that ‘you doubted me? Now I have shown what I can do.’ I have got it in me. He looks in good space. His centre of gravity is much lower than what it was over the last couple of years, which is a crucial facet in timing the ball and picking the length right,” Ashwin concluded
