Ashwin also spoke about the importance of Cheteshwar Pujara and Kohli batting well for India.
After Virat Kohli scored a Test hundred for the first time since November 2019, veteran Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin said that he never felt the right-hander was batting poorly.
The 34-year-old smashed 186 runs off 364 balls with 15 fours to help Team India draw the fourth and final Test against Australia at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Monday (March 13).
After the match, Ashwin opened up about his conversation with Kohli after the Indore Test against Australia and said that the former Indian skipper just needed the support.
R Ashwin was quoted as saying to Star Sports: “Personally, Virat and I had a conversation after the Indore Test. Not that we both connect too often on such lines. But I personally felt, Virat was batting well, he was getting time and was getting out after getting 30s and 40s.”
He added, “It was always evident and it needed someone to put an arm around his shoulder and say, ‘you are batting brilliantly, you just need to hang in there for a bit and things are going to turn’. And it’s turned for me in my cricketing career as well.”
Speaking on the importance of Cheteshwar Pujara and Kohli batting well for India, the spinner said: “I felt the big knock was around the corner. Even in the ODI series before this, Virat did play some of his wonderful knocks. Having him and Puji batting well together gives us a lot of advantage because one can eat up balls and the other has a real presence.”
Ashwin signed off by saying, “As a cricketer, playing with them all these years, I know runs on the board are very important. And these two players along with Rohit, I can sit and watch them all day.”