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Virat Kohli is arguably one of the greatest Indian batsmen and a cricketing icon of all time. Even though he has retired from the longest format and the T20Is, Kohli continues to be a core part of the squad in the fifty-over format. He also won his maiden IPL trophy with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in 2025 after standing strong and overcoming the odds after 18 years of wait.
Flattered by the contributions of Virat Kohli to the Indian cricket team, the former Indian wicket-keeper batsman and commentator Ambati Rayudu stated that the contribution of Kohli for the Indian cricket team has made him assured that India will go on to dominate another 100 years in the field of cricket. Rayudu, who was a Chennai Super Kings' title winning campaign in 2018, 2021 and 2023, stated that Virat Kohli has elevated the standards of fitness in cricket and has inspired many youngsters to follow his path and sustain for a long time with hard work and true dedication.
Fitness-wise, I don't think even half the players are fitter than Kohli’: Ambati Rayudu
Ambati Rayudu had a detailed discussion about the impact of Virat Kohli on Indian cricket on the ‘unplugged’ podcast with Journalist Shubhankar Mishra Rayudu stated that no one has done so many things for Indian cricket as much as Virat Kohli. The commentator further 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"
Further in the podcast, Rayudu stated that he was upset with Virat Kohli’s retirement in the test format as he felt that Virat Kohli had a lot to offer in the white jersey for the Indian cricket team for some more years. Rayudu did not see any problems with the fitness of Virat Kohli and feels that he is way fitter than half of the squad. In the end Rayudu just wished that Kohli remains happy after the legacy he has built in the Indian cricket team.
