Former Indian cricketer R Ashwin has responded to Virat Kohli's recent comments on his unexpected retirement from Test cricket. During the present IPL 2026, Kohli made a direct admission that he chose to leave the longest format following the tour of Australia, citing a climate in which he felt he was always being forced to justify his worth after every single game.

Kohli made the shocking statements during a candid interview with sports presenter Mayanti Langer for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru podcast. In response to Kohli's comments, Ashwin, who resigned from international cricket midway through India's tour of Australia in late 2024, fiercely supported his former teammate.

Additionally, he emphasized the extreme mental toughness needed to deal with constant scrutiny, particularly for seasoned players who have continuously produced at the greatest level.

"Virat said, 'I don't have to prove my work to anyone,' and that's absolutely right. Why, man? I also felt the same. There was nothing left to prove. Whom does he need to prove himself to after playing for so many years and winning so many matches for India?" Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.

"What people say from the outside is just their job. When you are young, there is often a strong urge to say, 'I will prove you wrong.' But maturity and wisdom come when you realize that the battle is not with anyone else but with yourself. The moment you have that realization, life becomes very easy. I think Virat has reached that point. It is not easy to leave regrets behind," he added.

Kohli also reacted to the relentless speculation surrounding his participation in the 2027 ICC ODI World Cup.

“Either tell me on day one I am not good enough or I am not needed." But if I am made to feel like I need to constantly prove my worth and my value, then I am not in that space," were Kohli's comments on the podcast.