As a matter of fact, Virat Kohli served as the test captain of India from the onset of 2014 until the compensation of 2022 season. And in mid of his tenure as the captain of the Indian team, there was a dramatic transformation and a huge positive one in India’s favour when Ravi Shastri took over as the head national coach from the onset of the 2017 season. Together the Ravi Shastri – Virat Kohli coach and captain pair would form a formidable leadership command of the Indian cricket firmament that would lead to some dramatic and positive results that established an alliance marked by great trust, a fresh approach to the game and transparency, all of which would lead to dominant results for Team India.
And having said that, an interesting scenario unfolded during India’s memorable tour of England in the year 2021, which if you remember was just around the time in Covid pandemic played a spoilsport. Certainly, this was the time in Virat Kohli was the test captain of India and Ravi Shastri was the head national coach.
While five Test matches were supposed to take place on that tour the fifth and final test match, which was due to be held at Manchester was cancelled because of Covid pandemic. However, by that time, a dominant captaincy approach led by the mesmerising Virat Kohli, who was guided outstandingly well by the team’s coach Ravi Shastri had already taken control over the proceedings on ground.
Of the four test matches that took place by that time, India had won two and both the Tests by a margin of over 150 runs with one Test match ending in a draw and test match being one by the hosts England what happened? What are you discussing side.
A centre point of this heroic outing for Team India in England was the absolute trust that Ravi Shastri posed in Virat’s leadership abilities and in turn the very fact that King Kohli could rely on Shastri’s abilities to judge a match situation and read the pitch to take the correct course of action in case he as the captain couldn’t.
This created a very positive environment for the side on the whole and something that Kohli himself has just recently reflected upon when recollecting the 2021 Nottingham memories and the camaraderie with former coach, Ravi Shastri-
"In 2021 Nottingham, first Test first session, it was a damp wicket so we chose to bowl. Within the first 40-45 minutes the pacers bowled well but couldn't get a wicket and Ravi Shastri bhai sent a message of "get on Ash", I replied that I'll see, after 15 minutes at drinks break he sent the message again of "get on Ash, it's damp" and I replied that I'm clear so please tell him Ash isn't bowling in this session and he didn't send that message again, by the lunch they were four down so when he feels that I'm convinced he takes the back seat and backs me with full energy aligned. And when he feels that I'm not clear he steps in". (One8).
