Virat Kohli labelled 'torchbearer of Test cricket' as Gautam Gambhir’s reality exposed by R Ashwin
Published - 17 Mar 2026, 01:28 PM | Updated - 17 Mar 2026, 01:30 PM
Ravichandran Ashwin recently praised ace batter Virat Kohli during a public appearance at the Trailblazers Conclave event. The off-spinner called Virat the torchbearer of the India national cricket team in the longest format, crediting him for bringing new audiences to red-ball cricket over the past decade.
His comments came one year after the right-handed batter announced his retirement from Test cricket. Kohli ended his Test career in May 2025 ahead of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025 against England. It is worth noting that he returned to play a Ranji Trophy match for Delhi before his retirement.
Virat Kohli was the Torchbearer of the Test Team - Ravichandran Ashwin
Speaking at the event, Ravichandran Ashwin acknowledged the boost Test cricket received from Virat Kohli. He also reminded fans that long-term success requires a complete team effort rather than relying on individual brilliance.
“Virat Kohli was the torchbearer of the Test team. That’s why a lot of people started following Test cricket as well. But a Test team cannot be just one or two individuals. A team that builds a legacy over a decade means much more than individuals. I think we tend to focus too much on individuality,” Ashwin said.
Virat Kohli Concluded Test Career with Over 9,000 Runs for India
Virat Kohli bid farewell to Test cricket with a detailed social media message last May. His final red-ball assignment came during a five-match series against Australia in late 2024, where the former captain struggled for consistent form.
In the series opener in Perth, Kohli scored a century in the second innings. However, he managed only 90 runs in the remaining matches and finished the tour with 190 runs.
Since making his debut against the West Indies in Kingston in 2011, Kohli played 123 Test matches for India. He scored 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85 across different conditions.
The Delhi-born cricketer hit 31 half-centuries and 30 centuries. His highest score was an unbeaten 254 against South Africa in a 2019 home match at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune.
Many People May Have Different Opinions About Gautam Gambhir - Ravichandran Ashwin
During the same discussion, Ravichandran Ashwin also opened up about India head coach Gautam Gambhir. He expressed appreciation for Gambhir’s coaching philosophy in the dressing room. Ashwin said that Gambhir consistently focuses on prioritizing the team over individuals.
“I like Gautam (Gambhir), and many people may have different opinions about him, but he is someone who always puts the team ahead of individuals. He credits the team, not individuals, and that’s something I like.”
Gautam Gambhir took over as head coach and instilled a team-first culture. The India national cricket team is now transitioning into a new era.
However, the Men in Blue suffered two whitewash series defeats against New Zealand and South Africa at home. They also failed to qualify for the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 final.
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Sai Vaitla is an author at Cricketaddictor and he has been working since September 2022. Sai Vaitla...
