Virat Kohli’s former teammate Ravichandran Ashwin has commented on the purple patch of the veteran batter. Under his tremendous batting form, he helped India to a win in the series opener with a 93-run knock.
India kick-started 2026 with a home series against the New Zealand side. The Blackcaps arrived in India to feature in three ODI matches and five T20I matches, which would mark the preparation for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2026.
The first game was played between the two sides in the Vadodara Cricket Stadium, the venue that hosted the first Men’s international game. The second ODI will be played at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot on the 14th of January.
Ravichandran Ashwin reflects on Virat Kohli’s excellent form
After Virat Kohli continued his stellar form in the 2026 home series following his latest antics in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, former teammate Ravichandran Ashwin commented on his mindset and the ongoing purple patch.
Kohli returned to international cricket following a six-month gap, when he scored back-to-back ducks for India before scoring a half-century for India at the Sydney Cricket Ground. He then scored two centuries against South Africa and a half-century in the third game.
With another hundred in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, he staged his domestic comeback in List A cricket and then continued his fine form in the longer format of One-day cricket.
“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,” said Ravichandran Ashwin on his YouTube channel.
Ashwin praises Shreyas Iyer as “Mr Consistent” for India
Virat Kohli has been in tremendous form lately; the seasoned campaigner was the top run-scorer for India in 2025 and has been in some form lately for India over the last three series. In the South Africa series, he amassed 302 runs across the three innings.
The ODI series opener against New Zealand marked the return of seasoned campaigner and vice-captain of the Indian side, Shreyas Iyer. He missed the previous series due to a rib cage injury. In his comeback innings, he played an impressive innings of 49 runs.
“We know that Shreyas has been Mr consistent for India in ODI cricket. His dismissal was very unlike Shreyas. He never leaves the game like this; he generally finishes it. But it is very understandable, he is making a comeback, and that was a good ball by Jamieson,” the Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin added.
Virat Kohli imitated Shreyas Iyer during the 1st ODI
As the Indian vice-captain, Shreyas Iyer, made a return to the Indian side, Virat Kohli, the great batter, walked behind him in the line as the team lined up for the national anthem.
Shreyas Iyer walked in his usual fashion with his shoulders protruding out, and Virat Kohli then pointed that out to Rohit Sharma and started imitating the Indian star. During the match, he also teased Iyer with a mocking dance after Iyer took a sharp and low grab.
Overall, they were looking in a joyous mood; especially Virat Kohli had unleashed his cheerful side, proving Ravichandran Ashwin’s claim that cricket is celebrating every moment in the twilight of his international career.
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