Former India's head coach Ravi Shastri is still not over Virat Kohli's sudden Test retirement and feels that the superstar batter's case could've been handled better with more communication. Ravi Shastri's connection to Virat Kohli's Test career runs deep. Having witnessed Kohli's journey from his formative years through both triumphs and setbacks, Shastri knows the batting juggernaut in and out. He occupied a unique vantage point to observe one of Indian cricket's most remarkable careers. Therefore, when the news of Kohli's decision to retire from Test cricket surfaced, it was understandable that Shastri was profoundly affected.
I would’ve made Virat Kohli captain straight after Australia: Ravi Shastri
During a discussion on Sony Sports prior to India's five-match Test series against England, a visibly emotional Shastri spoke his heart out on Kohli's retirement. The 63-year-old acknowledged that Kohli had confided in him about this potential decision in a private conversation back in April. However, the official announcement brought a renewed wave of emotion.
Shastri clearly said that Kohli deserved a more fitting farewell to a format he had become synonymous with.
"Virat has announced his retirement from Test matches, which is sad, you know, because he's a great player. A great player. It's only when you go that people truly realise how big a player you were. Stats don’t do justice — it’s about the way he carried himself, especially as an ambassador for Test match cricket, particularly overseas. The way he played at Lord’s, and how his team turned things around — it was unreal. And I’m glad I was a part of it. I feel sad that he's gone the way he has — suddenly. I think it could have been handled better, maybe with more communication," Shastri said.
Former India's star all-rounder also expressed his opinion that the BCCI selection committee, currently led by Ajit Agarkar, missed a chance when they did not reappoint Kohli as the captain of the Test team. He seemed to suggest that this decision could have provided a more suitable conclusion to Kohli's leadership in the format.
"If I had anything to do with it, I would’ve made him captain straight after Australia," Shastri further added.
Kohli, who amassed 9230 runs in 123 matches at an average of 46.85 riding on 30 centuries in his Test career, relinquished his role as the captain of the Indian Test team in 2022, following the conclusion of their tour of South Africa. Subsequently, Rohit Sharma was officially appointed as the captain across all formats of the game. However, after series defeats against New Zealand and Australia, there were reports suggesting that a senior player within the squad was eager to assume the leadership responsibility once more. While the specific player's name was never publicly disclosed, widespread speculation pointed towards Kohli.
Shastri's recent remarks, although not explicitly stating it, seemed to imply that Kohli indeed had aspirations to captain India's Test side again, but his desire was not met with a positive response from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
Ultimately, after Rohit Sharma's retirement from Test cricket just five days prior to Kohli's own retirement announcement, Shubman Gill was named as the captain of the Indian Test team ahead of the all-important England tour which is slated to start from June 20