"..Both had a good laugh": Legendary cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin shuts down fan rumours of rift with Virat Kohli
The rumours started after a video on Ashwin’s YouTube channel where he talked about India’s T20I performance. Some social media users said Ashwin was indirectly targeting Kohli. The former Indian spinner quickly ended the rumours by saying he had personally called Kohli, and the two laughed together about the unnecessary controversy.
In a direct and witty response to ongoing social media rumours, legendary Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has once again used his platform to clear up any talk of a rift with former captain Virat Kohli.
On January 29, Ashwin addressed a viral post that claimed he had made an ‘indirect attack’ on Kohli, saying that the two cricket veterans are still as close as ever.
The rumours started after a video on Ashwin’s YouTube channel where he talked about India’s T20I performance. Some social media users said Ashwin was indirectly targeting Kohli because he praised Rohit Sharma for improving India’s aggressive batting style but did not mention Kohli’s 76-run innings in the T20 World Cup 2024 final. Fans claimed this was a way to downplay Kohli’s contribution.
The former Indian spinner quickly ended the rumours by saying he had personally called Kohli, and the two laughed together about the unnecessary controversy.
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Ashwin Clears the Air
Ashwin, known for his sharp mind both on the field and on social media, chose to avoid public drama by calling Kohli directly. His post was a clear response to online ‘fan wars’ that often pit India’s biggest stars against each other.
Ashwin wrote on X:
“Just spoke to Virat about concern on the indirect attack, and we both had a good laugh about how social media works on such clickbait fan wars. Thanks for giving us a reason to bond and talk.”
Kohli’s Legacy in T20I and ODI
Virat Kohli’s T20I career ended on June 29, 2024, when he led India to a World Cup win with a match-winning 76 off 59 balls against South Africa. He was named Player of the Match and retired from T20Is with 4,188 runs at an average of 48.69.
In the home series against New Zealand in January 2026, Kohli showed his classic form. He scored his 54th ODI century with 124 off 108 balls in the third match and made 93 in the series opener. Even after being briefly displaced from the World No. 1 ODI ranking on January 21, 2026, he remains at No. 2 with 795 rating points, ahead of rivals like Ibrahim Zadran and Rohit Sharma.
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