'Virat Kohli has to be cautious': RCB great issued ‘Ashwin, Jadeja, Noor’ warning ahead of CSK clash

Veteran Indian cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara has opened up about Virat Kohli's approach during the match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Pujara said that Kohli should stick to his natural game despite the spin-friendly conditions at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.

Virat Kohli commenced his IPL 2025 campaign with a match-winning knock against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the season opener. The Royal Challengers Bengaluru batter scored an unbeaten 59 runs off 36 balls, including four boundaries and three sixes. The team secured a seven-wicket victory in Kolkata.

Virat Kohli Is Looking Like a Different Player - Cheteshwar Pujara

Speaking on ESPNcricinfo, Cheteshwar Pujara said that if RCB bats first, they must adopt an aggressive strategy and capitalize on the powerplay. Pujara advised that Kohli should not alter his natural game but warned him to play with some caution on a spin-friendly surface.

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"If they bat first, they need to be aggressive. They need to utilize their power play really well. I would insist that Virat shouldn't be changing his game, since he is looking like a different player," Pujara said.

"I do agree that he has to be a bit cautious at Chepauk, but at the same time it's not easy for a batter to change overnight. There has been a lot of talk about the way Virat bats in the IPL. And the way he is batting now, he is looking like a different player. So, I don't think his approach should change in this particular game," he added.

Virat Kohli Is Capable Enough of Taking Down Spinners - Cheteshwar Pujara

Cheteshwar Pujara said that Virat Kohli has the ability to handle top-quality spinners like Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. He stated that Kohli’s numbers might not fully reflect his prowess against spin, but his overall quality as a batter remains unquestionable.

"Virat is someone who is capable enough of taking down, whether it's Ashwin or Jadeja. He is probably one of the best players of spin," Pujara continued.

"Maybe not in this format if you look at just the numbers, but he is a quality player. I think if he can lead from the front and utilize that power play, and if RCB can get close to 60-70 in the first six, then they set up a good base for them," he stated.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru to Face Chennai Super Kings on Friday

Royal Challengers Bengaluru are set to take on Chennai Super Kings at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Friday, March 28.

Virat Kohli has played 13 IPL innings at the venue. He has scored 383 runs at an average of 29.46 and a strike rate of 111.01, including two half-centuries, with a top score of 58.

The RCB star is also on the verge of a major IPL milestone. Kohli needs just five more runs to surpass Shikhar Dhawan as the highest run-scorer against CSK in IPL history. Kohli has 1,053 runs in 33 matches against CSK.

Dhawan leads the list with 1,057 runs in 29 games at an average of 44.04 and a strike rate of 131.79, including an unbeaten 101. Rohit Sharma (896), Dinesh Karthik (727), and David Warner (696) are also on the list.

Also read: PCB fails to find a venue for PSL opening match despite hosting Champions Trophy last month