Former Indian all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin has put his weight behind Virat Kohli to play without any baggage in IPL 2026. After winning his maiden IPL title in the previous season, Ashwin reckons Kohli can play with all the freedom in the 19th edition of the IPL.

Ashwin believes that if Kohli comes up with an open mindset, he can bat like IPL 2016. Kohli was in beast mode in IPL 2016, scoring 973 runs at an average of 81.08 and a strike rate of 152.03 in the edition, which is the highest tally by any batter in a particular IPL season.

The talisman recently scored 240 runs in three ODIs at an average of 80 against New Zealand before the T20 World Cup, and he would be hungry to once again deliver for RCB in the IPL.

“Virat Kohli is sitting in a position of complete peace and blissfulness. He has accomplished a lot of things, has won tournaments, he has now won the IPL as well. He just wants to go after that one more 50-over World Cup. He can go and play freely now,” R Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.

“If he comes with an open mindset, he can bat like IPL 2016. The age factor is there. He can definitely go onto repeat it. If he says, ‘Boss, I am just going to let go and have fun’. Even if he makes 300 runs at a strike rate of 170, that is job done for RCB,” he added.

RCB qualified for the final in IPL 2016 after Kohli had an epic season with the bat. However, the Bengaluru-based franchise could not cross the last hurdle against Sunrisers Hyderabad.

RCB will begin their IPL defense against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Bengaluru on 28th March.