New Delhi: Virat Kohli was drained due to constant public scrutiny, which led him to retire from Tests, Ravi Shastri has said, adding that he believes the ave batter still was goo enough to play red-ball cricket for two-three years.
Shastri said he spoke to Kohli before he announced his retirment last Monday, pulling the plug on a stellar career of 123 Tests and 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85, including 30 hundreds.
“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,” the former India coach told The ICC Review.
“Virat surprised me because I thought he had at least two-three years of Test match cricket left in him. 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’re well done, as they say, then it sends a message to the body. You know, that’s it,” he said.
Kohli’s hunger tp win and ultra-aggressive intent kept him constantly on the spotlight, which contributed to his burnout, Shastri said.
“He’s got accolades around the globe. He has a bigger following than any other cricketer in the last decade. Whether it’s Australia, whether it’s 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 viewers. In the way he celebrated, you know his intensity was such that it was like a rash,” he added.
“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.”
Kohli and Shastri formed a formidable skipper-coach partnership. As skipper Kohli won 40 out of the 68 Tests he captained, which is a record for any Indian skipper.
“If he decided to do something, then he gave his 100%, which is not easy to match. Individually, as a bowler, as a batsman,” the former all-rounder said.
“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, he has to make all the decisions on the field.
“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 compartmentalise how much he wants to play across formats, there is bound to be a burnout.”
Ravi Shastri said he spoke to Virat Kohli before he announced his retirment last Monday, pulling the plug on a stellar career of 123 Tests and 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85, including 30 hundreds. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
