Former Indian team head coach Ravi Shastri revealed that Virat Kohli spoke to him before announcing his Test retirement. Shastri said that during the conversation, Virat mentioned he had no regrets about his career and believed he gave his best for the country in the longest format of the game.
Virat Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket on May 12. He shared the news through a long post on his official social media handles. Kohli scored 9,230 runs in 123 Test matches, including 30 centuries and 31 half-centuries. He was the fourth-highest run-scorer for India in Test cricket.
Retirement Was Clear in Kohli’s Mind
Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri formed the most successful captain-coach pair in India’s Test cricket history. Shastri has now confirmed that Kohli spoke to him before announcing his Test retirement.
Speaking to Sanjana Ganesan on ICC Review, Shastri said,
“I had talked to Virat about this. I think it was a week before he made the announcement. He was very clear in his mind that he had given his all. He had no regrets.”
The former India head coach added, “I asked him one or two personal questions, and he clearly said there was no doubt in his mind. That made me feel the time was right to step away. His mind told his body that it was time to go.”
Kohli Always Took Full Responsibility
Virat Kohli is India’s most successful Test captain, leading the team in 68 matches and winning 40 of them. Known for his aggressive style on the field, Shastri believes this intense attitude had its limits.
Shastri said, “When Kohli decides to do something, he gives 100 percent. That’s not easy to handle. A player may just do his job and sit, but Kohli wants to take all the wickets, take every catch, and make every decision on the field.”
The Pressure of Being a Global Icon
Shastri also spoke about the mental and emotional load Kohli carried as one of the biggest stars in the cricket world. He said, “He is so involved that if he doesn’t take rest, burnout is natural. If he doesn’t choose how to manage playing all three formats, it will lead to mental fatigue.”
Shastri added that Kohli has an unmatched fan following: “He is loved all over the world. In the last decade, no cricketer had a bigger fan base. Whether in Australia or South Africa, people watched matches just because of him. It was a love-hate relationship with fans.”
Kohli’s Energy Inspired Millions
Shastri praised Kohli’s passion and the energy he brings to the game: “Fans get angry with him because he has the power to disappoint them. The way he celebrates wickets shows he plays with a different kind of passion. That energy spreads quickly, not only in the dressing room, but also among fans. That’s why he is such an influential player.”
Shastri Was Surprised by Retirement
Ravi Shastri admitted that Kohli’s Test retirement surprised him. “I was shocked when I heard about his retirement because I believe the ‘King’ still has two to three years of cricket left in him,” Shastri said.
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