Courtesy: BCCI
Former Team India head coach Ravi Shastri has divulged that he spoke with batting maestro Virat Kohli a week before the latter’s retirement from Test cricket. Both Shastri and Kohli registered some sensational success as a coach-captain duo from 2017 to 2021. Together, they helped India record a maiden Test series victory in Australia in 2018 and level a five-match red-ball series in England by 2-2 in 2021. During their four-year stint, India never lost a Test series on home soil. Both India stalwarts share a healthy equation with each other and in a recent conversation with Sanjana Ganesan for ICC review, Shastri disclosed that he spoke to the star batter before the 36-year-old took a massive decision.
Divulging the details of the chat, Shastri said, "I did speak to him about it, I think a week before that [his announcement] and his mind was very clear that he'd given us everything. There were no regrets. There were one or two questions I asked, and that's a personal conversation which, you know, he mentioned very clearly, there were no doubts in his mind, which made me think, 'Yes, the time is right'. The mind has told his body that it's time to go."
Virat surprised me: Ravi Shastri was stunned by the former India captain’s decision
Shastri said Virat Kohli's decision surprised him as the former felt that the latter has a few years of Test cricket left in him. "Virat surprised me because I thought he had at least two-three years of Test match cricket left in him but then, when you're mentally fried and overcooked, that's what tells your body. You might be physically the fittest guy in the business. You might be fitter than half the guys in your team, but mentally you're well done, as they say, then it sends a message to the body. You know, that's it," added Shastri.
Virat will be seen in action for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) against defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 game to be played at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on May 17.
