Picture Credit: BCCI
Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has made a sensational claim in a recent interview. A member of the 1983 World Cup-winning India squad, Shastri threw light upon Virat Kohli's resignation as the India Test captain. The 59-year-old had formed a great partnership with Kohli as the coach and captain of the team respectively and had taken the teams to unparalleled heights especially in Test match cricket.
However, within months of Shastri's tenure as the head coach coming to an end, Kohli is no longer the Indian captain in any format. Talking to a media house on the sidelines of the Legends League Cricket, a T20 tournament where retired cricketers are participating and Shastri is the commissioner, he said that Kohli could have easily finished with 50-60 win as India Test captain had he led for two more years.
However, he stated that many people couldn't have digested that record of Kohli. But Shastri was quick to add that now that the decision has been made, it is time to respect the call made by the country's most successful captain in Test matches.
Virat Kohli could have led India for at least 2 more years in Tests: Shastri
"Virat Kohli could have led India for at least 2 more years in Tests with lots of matches at home and he could have ended with 50 or 60 Test wins but many people could not have digest that fact, now we should respect his decision," Shastri told Sports Today.
He also opined that Rohit Sharma should be made the next Test captain. He pointed out that the Hitman was named the vice-captain for the South Africa Tests but could not travel due to injuries and once he regains his fitness, he should be the obvious choice to succeed Kohli.
"Rohit Sharma should be Test captain if he's fit. He was appointed vice-captain for the South Africa series, but he couldn’t go there because of injuries. If he was made the vice-captain, why can’t he be promoted to a captaincy," he told India Today.