Ravi Shastri Praises Virat Kohli as His Top Player During Tenure

Shastri's Admiration for Kohli

Former head coach of the Indian cricket team, Ravi Shastri, has recognized legendary batsman Virat Kohli as the finest player he coached, commending his ability to 'dominate, be the face, play hard, but play fair.'

In a recent video shared on Sky Sports' YouTube Channel, Shastri reflected on his strong rapport with Kohli during their time together from 2017 to 2021, expressing admiration for some of the 'unreal' innings Kohli played in countries like Australia, South Africa, and England.

"Kohli, in his prime, was extraordinary. During those five years when India held the No. 1 spot in Test cricket, the innings he played across formats in Australia, South Africa, and England were remarkable," Shastri stated.

Kohli's Leadership After Dhoni

Shastri identified Kohli as the 'leader' of the team following MS Dhoni's retirement.

"After taking over the coaching role post-Dhoni, Kohli excelled. His skills as a batsman, his competitive spirit, and his desire to win were evident," he added.

Reflecting on his coaching tenure, Shastri mentioned he has 'no regrets,' although he felt the team was 'a little unlucky' not to secure an ICC trophy during that period.

Kohli's Achievements as Captain

During the Kohli-Shastri era, India reached the semifinals of the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup and finished as runners-up in the ICC World Test Championship 2019-21, narrowly losing to New Zealand.

From 2016 to 2019, Kohli amassed an impressive 10,603 runs in just 164 matches and 186 innings, boasting an astonishing average of 71.16, including 36 centuries and 46 fifties, with a top score of 254*.

Under his leadership, India emerged as a formidable Test team, featuring a talented group of fast bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, and Umesh Yadav. Kohli scored 4,208 runs in 43 Tests during this period, averaging 66.79.

Kohli's Overseas Success

Kohli's ability to deliver exceptional performances, particularly in challenging conditions in South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia, solidified his reputation as one of India's most reliable batsmen.

However, in the 2020s, while his performance in white-ball cricket remained strong, his Test form declined. He announced his retirement from Test cricket in May, having averaged just over 30 with only three Test centuries since the start of 2020.