NEW DELHI: Ravichandran Ashwin heaped praise on Virat Kohli , calling his energy level “bizarre” for his age while insisting the Indian stalwart continues to “talk the talk” even after quitting Tests and T20Is.Kohli marked his return to T20 cricket in style as he smashed 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.
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RCB’s big changes ahead of IPL: New rules, tribute and squad update Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SIGN UP NOW!Ashwin was particularly impressed by Kohli’s approach and intensity at the crease. “He talks the talk,” Ashwin said on JioHotstar, 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 supposed to be played,” he added.Kohli’s knock came after a prolific run in ODIs, where he had already shown great form against New Zealand and South Africa earlier this year, underscoring his consistency across formats.Bizarre at this ageBut what stood out most for Ashwin was Kohli’s unmatched intensity between the wickets. “I find him quite bizarre at this age. I tell him that during our conversations,” he revealed.Recalling the moment from the innings, Ashwin said: “He was batting at 40-odd, RCB were flying with inertia and ran through for one. He stopped and by the time the second ball reached halfway he was looking for a second.”He added that despite the shorter boundary, Kohli’s eagerness to push for more runs reflected his continued hunger. “That shows the passion he still brings to the game,” remarked Ashwin.Support Duffy’s ImpactAshwin also praised Jacob Duffy for his match-defining spell and credited him for setting the tone with the ball.“When Duffy was picked, I said it was a wonderful choice. He is right at the peak of his career,” Ashwin said, adding that the pacer has adapted smartly after early setbacks.“Tactically, RCB were better and executed those plans beautifully,” he noted.Still, the spotlight remained on Kohli – whose relentless drive, according to Ashwin, continues to defy age and expectations.
