"He just replied, 'Kaisa laga?' - R Ashwin recalls interesting Virat Kohli incident amid IND vs SA 2025 series

Former India cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin revealed the conversation between him and Virat Kohli after the latter's epic knock against Australia in the 2016 T20 World Cup in Mohali. Facing the Men in Yellow in a virtual knockout clash, the ace batter had smashed an unbeaten 51-ball 82 to guide his team into the semi-finals from an improbable stage.

With batters around him faltering, Kohli was stranded at one end, battling an ever-rising required rate. However, he managed to shift momentum by switching gears in the death overs, taking on the likes of Glenn Maxwell, James Faulkner, and Nathan Coulter-Nile to play one of the best knocks of his career.

Ravichandran Ashwin recalled how he praised Virat Kohli in the dressing room after he had won the match for India.

"I remember when he played that Mohali innings against Australia in the T20 World Cup, I went and praised him a lot. I told him what an innings it was, and he just replied, "Kaisa Laga?" I don't like it when he gets into his shell and does not talk. When he does not talk or express, that's when I actually don't enjoy," Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.

Ravichandran Ashwin noted a similar fire in him, a thirst to prove his critics wrong, from the way he celebrated his recent twin hundreds against South Africa.

"Why is Virat celebrating like that? What is he thinking, what has he gone through? Let's not forget that Virat left Test cricket. He loved Test cricket, and wanted to play always, but he left because it was not only about his requirements. Whatever chatter was going on, and his lack of runs in Tests, we don't know what he wanted to do," Ashwin added.

Virat Kohli smashed his 53rd ODI hundred during the recently concluded second ODI against the Proteas. Prior to that, he had scored a sublime 120-ball 135 in Ranchi to help India attain a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

"Virat must have thought that are these people doubting me?" - R Ashwin on the ace batter's form in IND vs SA 2025 2nd ODI

R Ashwin shed some light on Virat Kohli's aggressive demeanor on the field, where he has been at his expressive best with his theatrics and celebrations with and without the bat.

The former spinner feels that Kohli is going all out to prove the haters wrong and remind everyone what he is capable of.

"Now he has agreed to play Vijay Hazare, so communication is happening. In many ways, Virat must have thought that are these people doubting me? Are they doubting my ability? He must have taken it to heart that there are doubts regarding my skill and ability, and that I will show them now. Sometimes, in an attempt to desperately prove yourself, you can be out, and there is a chance that it happened with Virat as well in the past. But now, he must be telling that you doubted me? Now I have shown what I can do. I have got it in me," Ashwin said.

The third and final ODI of the series is scheduled to be held on Saturday, December 6, in Vizag. The scoreline currently reads 1-1 after the Proteas' historic run chase effort in the second match.