Former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri believes Virat Kohli had two years of Test cricket left in him after the latter announced his retirement. Shastri and Kohli are known to share a great bonhomie with each other and also savored success as a coach-captain duo for the team, taking India to their first Test series win on Australian soil.
Kohli amassed 9230 runs in 123 Test matches at an average of 46.85, including 30 centuries. The veteran, 36, was still fit as a fiddle but could not perform as per the lofty expectations in the last five years.
Shastri reckons Kohli’s mental fatigue might have played a key role in his retirement’s decision.
Ravi Shastri said on Sportstar, “I am sure Virat still had two years of Test cricket left in him. I would have loved to see him in England this summer. It would have been a good idea to hand him the captaincy for the tour, but he would know best why he decided to leave. Maybe mental fatigue drove him to decide because he was as fit as any other player in the team.”
“He knew his body best, but the mind would have played the decisive role. I will not rule out burnout as the decisive factor in curtailing his career at a critical phase of Indian cricket.”
Meanwhile, Kohli played his heart on his sleeve and made a lot of people fall in Test cricket, again. Shastri reckons Kohli played a crucial role in making people watch Test cricket and that would be his biggest legacy.
“For me, Virat will remain the most influential cricketer of the last decade. He had fans worldwide, especially those who turned up at Test matches to watch him bat like no one else. His making people watch Test cricket will be an enduring legacy. The team will forever miss his wild celebrations at the fall of a wicket and the joy he expressed at a partner’s batting feat,” said Shastri.
Kohli is currently playing for RCB in IPL 2025.
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