R Ashwin Decodes Virat Kohli's ODI Dominance: 'He Just Wants to Enjoy His Cricket'
Veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has offered insight into the remarkable ODI form of Virat Kohli, suggesting the star batter's current purple patch stems from a liberated mindset rather than any technical overhaul. Kohli recently anchored India's successful chase against New Zealand in Vadodara with a crucial 93, extending his run of 50-plus scores to five consecutive innings.
Ashwin noted that Kohli appears to be playing without pressure, combining the joy of his early career batting with the immense experience he has accumulated. This approach has allowed Kohli to silence critics who questioned his future in the 50-over format, especially after he finished 2025 as India's highest run-getter in ODIs. The analysis suggests that Kohli's decision to simply "enjoy his cricket" is the key driver behind his continued dominance and consistency in the format.
This analysis was generated by Third Umpire using official IPL statistics and live match data.
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“It looks like nothing is going on in his mind. You asked me what he has changed-he hasn't changed anything; he is just not thinking about anything. He made a decision that he just wants to enjoy his cricket. It seems like he is playing with the attitude of batting in his childhood, combined with the experience of so many years,”
Ravichandran Ashwin
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- Virat Kohli
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- RCB
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Related Statistics
Leading Run Scorers - IPL 2025
Top run-getters in the 2025 IPL season
| Select | Rank | Player | Team | run-scorers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
#1 | Gujarat Titans | 759 runs | ||
#2 | Mumbai Indians | 717 runs | ||
| #3 | Royal Challengers Bangalore | 657 runs | ||
| #4 | Gujarat Titans | 650 runs | ||
| #5 | Punjab Kings | 604 runs |
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“It looks like nothing is going on in his mind. You asked me what he has changed-he hasn't changed anything; he is just not thinking about anything. He made a decision that he just wants to enjoy his cricket. It seems like he is playing with the attitude of batting in his childhood, combined with the experience of so many years,”
Ravichandran Ashwin
- Player
- Virat Kohli
- Specialization
- Batter
- Team
- RCB
- Analyze
- Analyze Performance
- Team
- Team Performance