Former Indian cricketer Ambati Rayudu commended Virat Kohli’s consistent performance, advocating for his return to red-ball cricket following his impressive 69-run innings that led Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to a commanding 6-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL opener. Kohli’s innings, comprising five fours and five sixes, marked his 64th IPL fifty and made him the first player to surpass 4000 runs in chases in IPL history. RCB successfully chased down the target of 202 runs with 26 balls to spare.
Rayudu expressed admiration for Kohli’s prowess in ODIs and his seamless transition to the T20 league, foreseeing another five to six years of international cricket for the 37-year-old. He emphasized Kohli’s exceptional fitness and mental strength, suggesting that the only factor that could hinder his performance is his mental state. Rayudu believes that Kohli’s peak in the IPL is yet to come, describing what has been witnessed so far as just a glimpse of his capabilities.
Rayudu further recommended Kohli’s return to Test cricket, preferably as a captain, highlighting his exceptional leadership skills in the red-ball format. Despite Kohli’s retirement from red-ball cricket last year following a disappointing Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where he amassed 9230 runs in 123 matches with 30 centuries and 31 fifties, Rayudu believes that Kohli’s presence in Test cricket would be invaluable for Indian cricket. Kohli currently focuses on ODI matches for the national team.
