Virat Kohli Missed in Colombo Draw as Ashwin Ranks Bumrah Above Him

Virat Kohli's absence from the Indian Test side is being felt, with former cricketer Mohammad Kaif suggesting his aggressive leadership could have changed the outcome of the drawn Colombo Test in August 2026. The result complicates India's path to the World Test Championship final, requiring six wins from their last seven matches.

Did India Miss Virat Kohli's Intensity in Colombo?

India failed to force a result against Sri Lanka in the final Test in Colombo, settling for a 1-0 series win. With Sri Lanka resuming the final day at 210 for 6, India managed only two more wickets as Sonal Dinusha scored an unbeaten century to secure a draw.

Mohammad Kaif believes the team lacked the necessary urgency. He pointed directly to the missing presence of Virat Kohli, known for his constant communication and ability to keep intensity high during long spells in the field. "I felt that if someone like Virat Kohli had been playing this match, he would have been constantly shouting and keeping his team switched on," Kaif said. He argued India took the situation for granted, expecting wickets to fall rather than actively creating pressure.

Where Does Ashwin Rank Virat Kohli Among India's Greats?

In a separate development, former all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin recently ranked India's 16 greatest cricketers in a knockout format. While Sachin Tendulkar was ultimately crowned the greatest, Ashwin's bracket produced a major talking point. In the quarterfinal stage, he picked fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah over Virat Kohli.

Ashwin's decision highlights the immense value placed on Bumrah's match-winning bowling. Bumrah was the Player of the Tournament in India's 2024 T20 World Cup win and has 506 international wickets at a stellar average. Kohli, India's second-leading run-scorer with 28,359 runs and 85 centuries, was eliminated earlier than many would expect. In another surprise, Virender Sehwag was chosen over MS Dhoni in the same round.

What Advice Did Kohli Give a Struggling IPL Pacer?

Team India's new T20I pacer, Yash Thakur, has revealed the personal guidance he received from Virat Kohli during IPL 2026. Thakur, frustrated by limited game time at Punjab Kings, sought Kohli's counsel. "He advised me not to think too much about the future," Thakur recalled. Kohli told him to feel grateful for past opportunities and to improve his daily preparation so he would be ready when his chance came.

Thakur, who recently earned a national call-up, credited this advice and similar words from MS Dhoni for helping him manage pressure. He took four wickets in two matches during India's 3-0 T20I series win in Zimbabwe, showing he was ready when his opportunity arrived.

• WTC Pressure: India's Colombo draw means they likely need six wins from seven remaining Tests to reach the WTC final.
• All-Time Ranking: Ravichandran Ashwin ranked Jasprit Bumrah above Virat Kohli in his knockout bracket of India's greatest players.
• Mentor Role: Kohli advised young pacer Yash Thakur to focus on preparation, not frustration, during IPL 2026.

The debate over his standing among the all-time greats, however, continues off it.