Veteran Indian all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin gave a shoutout to Virat Kohli for his phenomenal century during the intense Champions Trophy match against Pakistan on Sunday. At 36, Kohli made a strong comeback, leading India to chase down the 242-run target with ease on a sluggish Dubai pitch. He was in his element, staying focused and avoiding risky shots, ultimately finishing with an impressive unbeaten 100, which included seven boundaries.

Ashwin, who recently hung up his international boots, defended Kohli against critics who had pointed fingers at him for getting out in the slips during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25.

“I never doubted Virat’s talent. Back when we were in Australia, people were quick to criticize him for nicking the ball in the slips. They need to realize that the pitch had grass, and it was red ball cricket—he was getting out in Test matches. There was so much chatter about it. Getting out in the slips, getting bowled, or being LBW—these are all part of the game. So what’s the big deal? I don’t read too much into it,” Ashwin shared on his YouTube channel, Ash ki Baat.

The spin wizard pointed out that ODIs are a format that really suits Kohli, suggesting that his performance against Pakistan could mark the beginning of a resurgence after a tough year.

“Virat’s class hasn’t disappeared. I’ve always said that ODI cricket is where his strength lies. I’m thrilled to see him excelling in ODIs, and this could very well be the start of his comeback. His confidence is only going to grow,” he added.

Ashwin said, "That was an incredible shot by Virat Kohli!"

Kohli, who only managed to score 22 runs, was in great form against Pakistan and played a key role in guiding India to the Champions Trophy semifinal.

At 36, he also hit the milestone of 14,000 ODI runs during the match, making him the fastest player to reach that mark. Ashwin couldn't help but commend Kohli's remarkable feat, struggling to find the right words to express his admiration for the batting legend.

“We were talking before the game about how it could be Virat Kohli’s moment, and I had a strong feeling about it. What an incredible innings from him! That’s his 51st ODI century and 14,000 runs in ODIs, achieving it in 60-70 fewer matches than the previous record holder. What else can I say? He’s just phenomenal,” Ashwin remarked.

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