Virat Kohli started the new season of the IPL from where he left in 2025, courtesy of a half-century in the season opener against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru and took the home team to a comfortable six-wicket win.
The Performance
This was Kohli’s sixty-fourth half-century in the history of IPL as he became the first batter to score 4000 runs while chasing in the league.
Expert’s Corner
Talking about Virat Kohli’s effort with the bat and in the field, former Indian batter and IPL winner Ambati Rayudu said on Espncricinfo’s Time Out show that the former Indian captain has at least five to six years of cricket left in him. In the words of Rayudu, “I feel his best is yet to come in the IPL. What we have seen is just a trailer. Fitness was never an issue with him. I don’t think he would ever get into any trouble with his physical fitness, getting late on the ball, or slowing down on the field. The only thing that can make him take a step back is his mental state. I don’t think he’s anywhere closer to the end of his career. I still see quality five to six years in him.”
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The Wish
Rayudu went on to say that Virat Kohli should make a comeback in the oldest format of the game, i.e. Test cricket. “I think he should make a comeback in Test cricket, hopefully, as a captain. He’s been the best red-ball captain that at least I have seen in Indian cricket. He should, the way he’s batting, I think it’s a loss for Indian cricket,” said Rayudu.
The Reason
Rayudu was also of the opinion that Kohli should be handed the captaincy of the Test team, as it would bring the best out of him. According to Rayudu, “It would be a great drive for him if you give him the captaincy. I think it will be a great challenge for him to win the WTC. He’s so fit, so I don’t see how that can be a concern.”
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