February 1, 2025: Former Indian cricketer Ambati Rayudu has come to the defense of Virat Kohli following his return to Ranji Trophy after 13 years, stating that Kohli doesn’t need the domestic tournament to prove himself. Rayudu emphasized that the veteran batter needs time to rediscover his confidence and urged fans to give him space.
Kohli’s return to domestic cricket was met with mixed results. While Delhi secured a memorable win in their Ranji Trophy clash, Kohli’s performance was underwhelming, scoring just 6 runs off 15 balls before being dismissed. However, Rayudu believes that Kohli’s technique, which led to 81 international centuries, remains intact and will serve him well moving forward.
Rayudu posted on X (formerly Twitter), urging people to respect Kohli’s journey and allow him the time he needs to get back to his best. “Right now Virat Kohli doesn’t need Ranji. His technique was good for 81 hundreds and it will be good going forward as well. No one should force him into forcing himself for anything. He needs time to feel good about everything again. The spark within will ignite on its own. Basically, respect and believe in him, most importantly leave him alone,” Rayudu wrote.
Kohli’s return to Ranji came after a new mandate by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) making domestic cricket compulsory for international players, alongside his struggles with form, particularly in Test cricket. Since 2020, Kohli has faced a significant decline in his Test performances, with an average of just 30.72 in 39 matches and only three centuries to his name. His struggles continued in the 2023-25 World Test Championship cycle, where he managed only 751 runs in 14 matches, at an average of 32.65.
Despite the decline, Rayudu’s message is clear: Kohli’s abilities haven’t diminished, and it’s only a matter of time before his form returns. The cricketer’s plea for privacy and support highlights the importance of allowing Kohli to focus on his game without added pressure.
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