Picture Credit: X/@SonyLIV
Just days after Rohit Sharma announced retirement from Test cricket, his compatriot and former skipper, Virat Kohli also put down curtains to his illustrious Test career, spanning across 14 years. The 36-year-old took to his Instagram handle to call it quits from the longest format of the game, leaving the entire cricketing community in shock.
While his decision was his personal, former India cricketer and head coach, Ravi Shastri has now opened up on Kohli’s Test retirement. Shastri’s remarks come at a stage where Team India is set to take on England in a highly-anticipated Test series, consisting of five matches, starting from June 20.
Sad Virat Kohli retired like this, I’d have made him Test captain: Ravi Shastri
Shastri has been close to Virat Kohli as the two have shared some great years when the former was the coach and the latter was leading Team India. Speaking ahead of the England-India Test series, Ravi Shastri opined that the stalwart’s retirement could have been managed in a better way. “It’s only when you go that people truly realise how big a player you were. Stats don’t do justice — it’s about the way he carried himself, especially as an ambassador for Test match cricket, particularly overseas. The way he played at Lord’s, and how his team turned things around — it was unreal. And I’m glad I was a part of it,” he began.
“I feel sad that he is gone, the way he’s gone. I think it could have been handled better. There should have been more communication. If I had anything to do with it, I would have made him captain straight away after Australia,” Ravi Shastri continued while speaking on Sony Sports Network’s program ‘Bharat Tum Chale Chalo: Kahani 21-22 Ki’.
It is to be noted that Virat Kohli retired from Tests, having amassed 9230 runs at an average of 46.85, including 30 centuries and 31 half-centuries. He finished his career in the longest format at fourth place in India’s all-time Test run-scorers list. As a captain, he led the side to the highest number of victories, 40 out of 68 matches.
