Top 3 R Ashwin-Virat Kohli batting partnerships in Tests

Veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin announced his retirement from international cricket following the conclusion of the third Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 Test in Brisbane.

Ashwin finished as the second-highest India wicket-taker after Anil Kumble (619) with 537 scalps in red-ball cricket. The Tamil Nadu-born cricketer also has 156 ODI and 72 T20I wickets to his name.

Besides his bowling prowess, the 38-year-old is also an able batter and has made many significant contributions in the lower order. He has stitched together many important partnerships with batters, including former Indian skipper Virat Kohli.

As we look back to his glorious career, let's take a look at the top three batting partnerships between Ravichandran Ashwin and Virat Kohli in Tests.

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#1 168 - IND vs WI, 2016

The first Test between India and the West Indies during the 2016 tour saw Virat Kohli and Ravichandran Ashwin pile on runs. Batting first, India lost Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara cheaply before Shikhar Dhawan and Kohli steadied the ship for the visitors.

Dhawan and Kohli added 105 runs before Devendra Bishoo struck for the hosts. The leg-spinner also dismissed Ajinkya Rahane in quick succession to halt India's innings. However, Ashwin joined hands with the former Indian skipper to take the team's total past the 400-run mark.

They added 168 runs for the fifth wicket that saw Kohli score a double hundred and Ashwin chipped in with 113 runs. It is also the highest partnership shared between the two players ever in red-ball cricket.

India declared their first innings 566/8 before the bowlers picked up 20 wickets to help the team win by an innings and 92 runs.

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#2 97 - IND vs WI, 2011

The 2011 Test series between India and the West Indies is mostly known as Sachin Tendulkar's farewell series. The tour also marks Ravichandran Ashwin and Mohammed Shami's debut series in red-ball cricket.

The third Test at the Wankhede Stadium, which was Tendulkar's last, saw the visiting side muster 590 runs in the first innings. In reply, the hosts got off to an excellent start, reeling at 138/2 when Tendulkar walked out to bat. The batting legend played a magical knock of 94 before getting out to Ravi Rampaul.

Kohli and Ravichandran Ashwin then stitched together a fine 97-run stand for the seventh wicket. It is the second-highest partnership between the two batters.

Although India conceded the first-innings lead, the match ended in a draw, with the hosts winning the series 2-0.

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#3 96 - IND vs ENG, 2021

The second Test between India and England at MA Chidambaram Stadium saw the former post 329 runs in the first innings riding a 161-run knock from Rohit Sharma. England were bundled out for 134 in reply, with Ashwin picking up a five-wicket haul.

The off-spinner then chipped in with the bat, adding 96 runs with Virat Kohli while others struggled on a wicket that offered turn and bounce. He was eventually bowled out by Olly Stone after scoring 106 runs off 148 balls, including 14 boundaries and a six.

Ashwin picked up another three wickets in the second essay to guide India to a 317-run victory.