‘Time Is Right’- Ravi Shastri Reveals Virat Kohli Talked To Him Before Announcing Test Retirement

Ravi Shastri, the former head coach of India, has revealed that he had spoken with Virat Kohli before the latter’s surprising decision to retire from Test cricket.

Despite India’s upcoming five-Test tour of England in June, Kohli announced his retirement from the format on Monday, May 12. With 30 Test centuries and 9230 runs — the fourth-highest by an Indian batsman — Kohli finishes as one of the finest Test players of his time.

Kohli hung up his boots from Tests last week

With 40 wins in 68 Tests, 13 more than second-best MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli is India’s most successful Test skipper.

From 2017 to 2021, Ravi Shastri and Virat Kohli built a strong partnership as India’s head coach and captain. During this time, India dominated at home and reached the 2021 World Test Championship final.

Their most notable feat was guiding India to their first-ever Test series win in Australia in 2018/19.

Ravi Shastri opens up on his chat with Virat Kohli ahead of his Test exit

Shastri stepped down after India’s early exit from the 2021 T20 World Cup in Dubai. Speaking on the ICC Review, he shared that Kohli had spoken to him before announcing his retirement.

“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,” Shastri told ICC Review.

“If he decided to do something, then he gave his 100%, 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’s as if he has to take all the wickets, he has to take all the catches, and he has to make all the decisions on the field.

With that much involvement, I would think there’s going to be a burnout somewhere if he doesn’t take a rest; if he doesn’t compartmentalize how much he wants to play across formats, there is bound to be a burnout,” he added.

Shastri said Kohli’s fame and the constant spotlight would eventually take a toll.

“He’s got accolades around the globe. He has a bigger following than any other cricketer in the last decade. Whether it’s Australia or 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,” he added.

Nothing more left to achieve: Ravi Shastri on Virat Kohli’s cricketing journey

Still, Shastri admitted Kohli’s decision came as a surprise. India broke a 22-year drought for a series win in Sri Lanka, won back-to-back series in the West Indies, and fought hard in England and South Africa.

“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, and he’s won an Under-19 World Cup [2008] himself. I mean, there’s nothing for him to achieve,” Shastri signed off.

Virat Kohli will continue to play in ODIS for India.

Also Read: Rohit Sharma Declared Technically Better Than Virat Kohli By Ex-South African Batter