The Impressive TimesNew Delhi : Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has confirmed that Virat Kohli reached out to him just a week before announcing his retirement from Test cricket, offering a rare insight into the mindset of one of India’s greatest modern-day cricketers. Speaking on Thursday, Shastri revealed that while the decision did surprise him, the tone and content of Kohli’s words during their private conversation made him realize that the star batter was ready to move on.
Kohli, 36, stunned the cricketing world on Monday afternoon when he announced his retirement from Test cricket via a heartfelt Instagram post. The news came just five days after Indian captain Rohit Sharma also bowed out from the longest format, marking the end of an era in Indian cricket. Kohli’s decision ended days of speculation about his future in red-ball cricket, particularly following India’s loss in the World Test Championship Final and the recent home series against England.
According to Shastri, Kohli’s approach during their chat was calm and reflective. “He sounded at peace with his decision. While I was taken aback initially, the way he spoke made it clear he had thought it through. He had achieved everything he could in the format and wanted to step away on his own terms,” Shastri said.
Kohli’s legacy in Test cricket is immense. In a career that spanned over 111 Tests, he scored 9,230 runs at an average of 54.79, including 30 centuries. He stands as India’s fourth-highest run-scorer in Test cricket, behind only Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Sunil Gavaskar. More than just numbers, Kohli’s aggressive captaincy and fitness revolution brought a new identity to India’s Test team, especially overseas.
Under his leadership, India became the No. 1 Test side in the world and registered memorable series wins in Australia and strong performances in England and South Africa. Kohli was also instrumental in nurturing a pace-bowling unit that became the envy of the cricketing world.
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