Virat Kohli’s achievement as a cricketer is surreal, to say the least. He has taken Indian cricket to greater heights with his batting and captaincy over the years.

Kohli has represented India in 123 Tests, 302 ODIs and 125 T20Is, amassing more than 27000 international runs with 82 centuries. He led India in 213 matches across formats and won 135 of them. His success rate as Indian captain is one of the best in the game’s history.

No wonder, Virat Kohli is considered as one of the finest cricketers of the modern era. Recently, former India batter Ambati Rayudu hailed Kohli as a one-of-a-kind personality, stating that his contribution has ensured that India go on to dominate another 100 years in the sport.

In particular, Rayudu emphasized Kohli's immense contribution in levelling up the standard of fitness in Indian cricket.

"The kind of things he has done for Indian cricket, I don't think anyone else has. And his value, many people don't realize," Rayudu said on the 'Unplugged' podcast.

"It's not just about his batting. Yes, batting is there, but fitness. Before him, players were fit, naturally fit, many of them. But because of him, Indian cricket has reached another level," he added.

"Virat Kohli has given Indian cricket the next 100 years in which Indian cricket will dominate. Because what he started is extraordinary. He had the skill, but to that skill he added fitness. Once you are fit, you are always mentally sharper, and your cricketing execution improves that much more. So for Test cricket also, it is very good," Rayudu continued.

Virat Kohli called time on his Test career in May this year, days ahead of the selection of India’s squad for the recently-concluded England tour.

Having retired from T20Is last year, the 36-year-old will now focus solely on the 50-over format. However, his participation in the 2027 ODI World Cup remains a mystery.

Rayudu lamented about Kohli’s Test retirement, stating that he should've played longer in the traditional format.

"In my opinion, he took it too early, 100 per cent. He should have played this series (against England). He should have played a lot more. Fitness-wise, I don't think even half the players are fitter than him," Rayudu remarked.

"I just hope he is happy. Because sometimes people think if you have so many hundreds, or so much money, then you are happy. But eventually, I just hope that he is happy," Rayudu further said.