Virat Kohli continued his prolific form in the ongoing ODI series against South Africa as he slammed his second consecutive century on Wednesday (December 3).
The Indian batting stalwart followed up his dazzling 135 (120 balls) in Ranchi with a brilliant 102 (93 balls) in Raipur. It was Kohli’s 53rd ODI ton and he now has 84 international hundreds to his name.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin suggested that Kohli is surely thinking about something, especially what he has endured over the past year while being a part of Indian cricket and that is reflecting in his century celebrations against South Africa.
Kohli called time on his Test career earlier this year after the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 debacle. The 37-year-old had bid adieu to T20Is last year, and only plays the ODI format for India now.
“Why is Virat celebrating like that? What is he thinking? What has he gone through? Let us not forget that Virat left Test cricket. He loved Test cricket and wanted to play always, but he left because it was not only about his requirements," Ashwin said.
“Whatever chatter was going on and his lack of runs in Tests, we don’t know what he wanted to do," he added.
Ashwin reflected on Kohli’s on-field aggression, noting how the latter has been at his expressive best both with and without the willow.
“Now he has agreed to play Vijay Hazare, so communication is happening. In many ways, Virat must have thought that are these people doubting me? Are they doubting my ability? He must have taken it to heart that there are doubts regarding my skill and ability and that I will show them now," Ashwin stated.
“Sometimes, in an attempt to desperately prove yourself, you can be out and there is a chance that it happened with Virat as well in the past. But now, he must be telling you that you doubted me? Now I have shown what I can do," he remarked.
Virat Kohli will look to add another century to his tally when India face South Africa in the third and final ODI, scheduled for December 6 in Vizag.
