‘Bizarre at this age’: R Ashwin in awe of Virat Kohli’s relentless intensity
Ravichandran Ashwin lauded Virat Kohli's "bizarre" energy levels at his age, stating the Indian stalwart continues to "walk the talk" after stepping away from Tests and T20Is. Kohli's unbeaten 69 in the IPL 2026 opener against SRH showcased his enduring hunger and intensity between the wickets, setting a benchmark for the game.
NEW DELHI: Ravichandran Ashwin has heaped rich praise on Virat Kohli, calling his energy levels “bizarre” for his age while insisting the Indian stalwart continues to “walk the talk” even after stepping away from Tests and T20Is. Kohli marked his return to T20 cricket in style, smashing an unbeaten 69 off 38 balls to guide Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a dominant six-wicket win over Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL 2026 opener. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel.
SUBSCRIBE NOW! Ashwin was particularly struck by Kohli’s approach and intensity at the crease. “He walks the talk,” Ashwin said on a JioHotstar show, highlighting how the veteran continues to set the benchmark.
“It’s almost like he’s putting on a show for people to see how the game should be played — play it hard and play it the way it’s meant to be played,” he added. Kohli’s knock came on the back of a prolific run in ODIs, where he had already showcased sublime form against New Zealand and South Africa earlier this year, underlining his consistency across formats. ‘Bizarre at this age’ What stood out most for Ashwin, however, was Kohli’s unmatched intensity between the wickets.
“I find him quite bizarre at this age. I tell him this during our chats,” he revealed. Recalling a moment from the innings, Ashwin said, “He was batting on 40-odd, RCB were coasting, and he ran through for a single.