Virat Kohli’s Farewell: Shastri Shares Insight into Skipper’s Decision
Former India head coach Ravi Shastri opened up about a heartfelt conversation he had with Virat Kohli before the legendary batsman’s shock Test retirement. Shastri revealed that Kohli reached out to him a week before his announcement, expressing a sense of closure and unwavering conviction in his decision.
A Mind Made Up
In an interview with Sanjana Ganesan for The ICC Review, Shastri shared, “I did speak to him about it, I think a week before that [his announcement] and his mind was very clear that he had given us everything. There were no regrets. There were one or two questions I asked, and that is 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.”
Kohli’s Intense Approach
Shastri, who partnered with Kohli for a highly successful period in Indian cricket, acknowledged Kohli’s remarkable dedication and intensity. He said, “If he decided to do something, then he gave his 100 per cent, which is not easy to match. Individually, as a bowler, as a batsman. A player does his job, [and] then you sit back. But [with Kohli] when the team goes out, it is as if he has to take all the wickets, he has to take all the catches, he has to make all the decisions on the field. That much involvement, I would think there is going to be a burnout somewhere if he does not take a rest, if he does not compartmentalise how much he wants to play across formats, there is bound to be a burnout.”
The Price of Stardom
Shastri further highlighted the toll that Kohli’s immense fame and constant scrutiny took on him, saying, “He has got accolades around the globe. He has a bigger following than any other cricketer in the last decade. Whether it is Australia, whether it is South Africa, he just got people to watch the game. There was a love-hate relationship. They would get angry because he had the ability to get under the skin of the viewer also. In the way he celebrated, you know his intensity was such that it was like a rash. It spread very quickly, not just within the dressing room, but within living rooms as well for people watching cricket. So he was an infectious personality.”
A Surprising Farewell
Despite Kohli’s remarkable achievements, Shastri admitted he was taken aback by the decision. “Virat surprised me because I thought he had at least two-three years of Test match cricket left in him,” he confessed. “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 are well done, as they say, then it sends a message to the body. You know, that is it.”
A Legacy of Success
Shastri reflected on Kohli’s remarkable captaincy, highlighting the team’s historic achievements during their era, including a historic Test series win in Australia, back-to-back series wins in the West Indies, and breaking a 22-year drought for a series win in Sri Lanka. “At times when you quit the game, you know, and after a month or two months you say, ‘I wish I had done this, I wish I had done this.’ [Kohli] He’s done everything. He’s captained sides, he’s won World Cups, he has won an Under-19 World Cup [2008] himself. I mean, there’s nothing for him to achieve,” Shastri concluded.
