Kohli, speaking on the RCB podcast, revealed that the constant expectation to justify his place after every outing played a major role in his decision to retire from the longest format after India\u2019s tour of Australia.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The comments sparked widespread discussion across the cricketing world, and Ashwin, who himself retired from international cricket midway through India\u2019s 2024 Australia tour, said he completely understood Kohli\u2019s mindset.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cVirat said, 'I don't have to prove my work to anyone,' and that's absolutely right. Why, man? I also felt the same. There was nothing left to prove. Whom does he need to prove himself to after playing for so many years and winning so many matches for India?\u201d Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Ashwin spoke at length about the emotional and mental burden that senior players often carry, especially after years of performing under relentless public scrutiny. According to the veteran off-spinner, there comes a stage in a cricketer\u2019s career where external validation ceases to matter.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cWhat people say from the outside is just their job. When you are young, there is often a strong urge to say, 'I will prove you wrong.' But maturity and wisdom come when you realise that the battle is not with anyone else, but with yourself. The moment you have that realisation, life becomes very easy. I think Virat has reached that point. It is not easy to leave regrets behind,\u201d he added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Kohli\u2019s original remarks had offered a rare insight into the mental fatigue experienced by elite athletes late in their careers. The former India captain suggested that repeatedly being placed in situations where he felt compelled to justify his value had taken a toll on him.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cWhat people say from the outside is just their job. When you are young, there is often a strong urge to say, 'I will prove you wrong.' But maturity and wisdom come when you realise that the battle is not with anyone else, but with yourself. The moment you have that realisation, life becomes very easy. I think Virat has reached that point. It is not easy to leave regrets behind,\u201d he added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The batting great also addressed speculation surrounding his potential participation in the 2027 ICC ODI World Cup, making it clear that he no longer feels the need to chase approval or silence critics at this stage of his journey.<\/p>\r\n\r\n