Ajinkya Rahane discusses Virat Kohli’s mindset in white-ball chases and Test partnerships

By Arjun Nair / 05.08.2026

By Arjun Nair — 5 August 2026 — 4 min read

Ajinkya Rahane has shared insights into Virat Kohli’s approach to white-ball run chases, highlighting his mental fortitude and strategic decision-making. Kohli is widely recognized for his success in limited-overs cricket, consistently guiding India to victory in high-pressure situations.

Rahane attributes Kohli’s success in chases to his mental calculations. He noted that Kohli maintains composure even when faced with escalating run rates or falling wickets. This ability to remain calm and make precise decisions is considered a key factor in his consistent performance.

Kohli’s game awareness allows him to assess when to attack, making him a reliable batter in ODI and T20I formats. His statistics when batting second are notable, with numerous match-winning innings for India. He holds the record for the most centuries in successful ODI run chases, having achieved this feat 22 times. For comparison, Sachin Tendulkar has 14 centuries in winning chases, and former Australia captain Ricky Ponting recorded eight.

Former England captain Alastair Cook also commented on Kohli’s unique method, describing his risk-taking as calculated rather than reckless. Cook observed that Kohli takes what appears to be a significant risk, but for him, it is not. This approach is then repeated.

Kohli’s Decision-Making Under Pressure

Rahane believes that Kohli’s primary strength is not merely his technique but his thought process during a chase. Speaking on the “Stick to Cricket” podcast, Rahane mentioned attempting to uncover the secret behind Kohli’s consistent success, but without receiving a direct answer. He described Kohli’s calculations as fearless, particularly in understanding when to take risks.

Many batters possess the skill to hit the ball forcefully or adhere to conventional cricket strategies during a chase. However, Kohli’s distinctiveness lies in his ability to manage the psychological aspects of the game, such as nerves and pressure, and to make critical, split-second decisions. His performance over more than fifteen years demonstrates a sustained level of excellence that is challenging for other batters to maintain.

Kohli’s chasing average, across all chases, remains significantly higher than his overall career average. This suggests that his success in chases is not dependent on favorable conditions or weaker opposition, but rather on his mental approach and understanding of the game’s demands.

Partnerships in Test Cricket

Beyond white-ball cricket, Rahane also discussed his bond with Virat Kohli in Test cricket, highlighting their successful partnerships. The duo scored 3661 runs together from 67 innings in Test matches. Rahane noted that their contrasting personalities, with Kohli’s aggressive nature and his own calm demeanor, complemented each other effectively.

Rahane explained that positive and frank communication was crucial to their successful partnerships. He recalled instances where Kohli would express a desire to attack a specific bowler, and Rahane’s backing would encourage Kohli further. This dynamic allowed them to build strong stands, particularly against Australia.

Kohli himself has referred to Rahane as his favorite Test batting partner. After Rahane’s retirement from international cricket, Kohli shared a message on X, congratulating him on his career and acknowledging his contributions to Indian cricket. Kohli praised Rahane’s fielding, calling him the “safest pair of hands in the slips,” and reiterated his status as his preferred Test batting partner.

Rahane also reflected on the transition of Indian cricket after MS Dhoni stepped away from Test captaincy in December 2014. He credited Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri with transforming the team, instilling an aggressive mindset and fostering a cultural shift. As vice-captain under Kohli’s leadership and with Shastri as head coach, Rahane observed this transformation firsthand.

Under Kohli’s captaincy, which began in January 2015, India rose from around seventh in the ICC Test rankings to number one within two years, maintaining that position for most of his tenure until January 2022. Rahane noted that Kohli and Shastri made the team tougher, especially in overseas matches, encouraging players to play with more aggression and take risks. Kohli provided freedom to attack from the first ball, fostering a fearless approach.

Their on-field relationship extended to strategic discussions, with Kohli enjoying confrontations with opponents and sometimes asking Rahane for advice on how to respond. Rahane encouraged Kohli to engage, stating that it fueled him. Off the field, they spent considerable time discussing cricket, which Rahane noted is less common nowadays. The pair recorded 10 century and 17 half-century stands, averaging 56.32, placing them fifth all-time in terms of runs scored as a pair in Test history.

Rahane also took on the captaincy when Kohli was absent, leading India to significant victories. This included his debut as skipper in the deciding Test of the 2017 Border-Gavaskar Trophy at Dharamsala. He notably led the team to a 2-1 series win in Australia during the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, following a challenging start where India was bowled out for 36 runs in the second innings of the first Test in Adelaide in December 2020.

Rahane humorously recalled the run-out incident involving Kohli during that Adelaide Test, where Kohli was batting on 74 runs in the first innings. Rahane described his instinctual call for a run, followed by a quick retraction upon seeing Josh Hazlewood, resulting in Kohli’s run-out.

Source: sports.yahoo.com