Virat Kohli has given Indian cricket the next 100 years to dominate: Ambati Rayudu

Former Indian keeper-batter Ambati Rayudu has heaped praise on the Indian talismanic batter Virat Kohli, stating that his contributions for the Indian cricket team have ensured that the nation goes on to dominate another 100 years in the sport.

While speaking exclusively on Shubhankar Mishra’s Unplugged Podcast, Rayudu stated that it’s not just about Kohli’s batting, but also about fitness, adding that because of Kohli, Indian cricket has reached another level.

"The kind of things he has done for Indian cricket, I don't think anyone else has. And his value, many people don't realize. It's not just about his batting. Yes, batting is there, but fitness. Before him, players were fit, naturally fit, many of them. But because of him, Indian cricket has reached another level," Rayudu said in the Unplugged podcast.

"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," Rayudu added.

However, the former CSK batter feels that Kohli has taken a premature retirement in the longest format of the game, asserting that he should’ve taken part in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. Notably, Kohli and Rohit Sharma announced their Test retirements ahead of the England tour.

"In my opinion, he took it too early, 100 per cent. He should have played this series (against England). He should have played a lot more. Fitness-wise, I don't think even half the players are fitter than him," Rayudu noted.

"I just hope he is happy. Because sometimes people think if you have so many hundreds, or so much money, then you are happy. But eventually, I just hope that he is happy," he concluded.

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