‘Is He Playing for England?’: R Ashwin Stunned by Virat Kohli’s Latest Form After Explosive 139*

Just when it seems Virat Kohli has exhausted the ways in which he can surprise the cricket world, another innings arrives.

Kohli’s extraordinary 139 not out from just 88 balls against the West Indies in Thiruvananthapuram didn’t merely help India complete a comfortable chase — it left former teammate Ravichandran Ashwin searching for an explanation for just how freely the veteran is batting.

Ashwin eventually found one, although he delivered it with a joke.

“I don’t know if he is playing for England in England!”

The former India spinner’s playful remark summed up his reaction to a Kohli innings filled with unusually aggressive intent, including 10 fours and nine sixes.

Ashwin amazed by the freedom in Kohli’s batting

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin praised the flow and freedom with which Kohli approached the innings.

“To bat with so much flow is not an easy thing, and the way he is batting is just remarkable, just amazing,” Ashwin said.

It wasn’t simply the volume of runs that caught his former teammate’s attention.

Kohli attacked throughout his innings and reached his hundred in only 74 deliveries, before eventually finishing unbeaten on 139.

His nine sixes were particularly striking for a batter traditionally associated with precision, running between the wickets and boundary-hitting through conventional strokeplay rather than sustained six-hitting.

Kohli powers India through another chase

The innings came as India pursued 296 for victory in the opening ODI against the West Indies.

Kohli combined with captain Shubman Gill, who scored 110 from 108 deliveries, for a crucial 151-run second-wicket partnership.

India eventually reached the target in 41.4 overs, losing only two wickets and winning with 50 deliveries remaining.

The century was Kohli’s 55th in ODI cricket and 86th across international formats.

He also crossed another enormous career landmark during the innings — 15,000 ODI runs.

Why Kohli’s latest version has impressed Ashwin

Kohli has spoken about continuing to evolve his batting rather than simply relying on the methods that have brought him success throughout his career.

That willingness to adapt late in his career appears to have impressed Ashwin.

At this stage, Kohli has little left to prove statistically. Yet his increasingly aggressive approach suggests he is still looking for ways to expand his game as India build towards the 2027 ODI World Cup.

His recent ODI numbers underline that he remains productive. Before the West Indies hundred, Kohli had scored 74 and 65 against England in July, while he also made 124 against New Zealand earlier in 2026.

Will the 2027 World Cup be Kohli’s final chapter?

Ashwin also addressed the growing discussion around how long Kohli might continue playing international cricket.

With Kohli now concentrating on the ODI format, the 2027 World Cup has naturally become a major reference point when discussing his future.

Ashwin believes continuing beyond that tournament could be unlikely.

“After 2027, chances of playing are very low… It’s about mindset,” he said.

The former spinner pointed towards the enormous amount of work required to maintain elite fitness and batting standards, particularly at this stage of a player’s career.

According to Ashwin, much of the work Kohli puts in happens away from public view.

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Ashwin explains why playing beyond 2027 may be difficult

Ashwin argued that sustaining those standards year after year requires an extraordinary commitment.

He suggested that if Kohli chooses not to continue after 2027, the decision would be understandable given the demands involved.

Ashwin also noted the practical question of continuing solely as an ODI specialist after the next World Cup.

His comments remain an assessment rather than confirmation of Kohli’s retirement plans. Any final decision over his international future would ultimately come from Kohli himself.

Kohli keeps answering with the bat

For now, retirement discussions can wait.

Kohli’s performance against the West Indies provided a much more immediate talking point.

139 runs. 88 balls. Nine sixes. A 74-ball century. 15,000 ODI runs. And another successful Indian chase.

Even Ashwin, who shared the Indian dressing room with Kohli for years and witnessed many of his greatest innings from close quarters, was left impressed.

His humorous “Is he playing for England?” reaction may have grabbed attention, but the message underneath it was straightforward.

At this stage of his career, Virat Kohli is still finding new ways to bat — and even those who know his game best are taking notice.