The dynamic duo of Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri has helped India reach new heights in Test cricket including the two Test series win over Australia and recent dominant display against England. With Shastri in the dressing room, Kohli rose to the top and became the most successful Indian captain in the longest format of the game. With the 33-year-old stepping down as T20I captain, there have been rumours that he may do the same in other formats also. Shastri rubbished the claim in the Test format but gave an open-ended answer for the 50-over game.
“In red ball cricket, India has been the no.1 team in the world for the last 5 years under Virat Kohli. So unless he wants to give up or if he is mentally fatigued and says he wants to focus on his batting - which can happen in the near future, don't think it will happen immediately - it can happen,” the 59-year-old told India Today in an exclusive interview.
Shastri feels the decision will depend on his mental and physical fitness. He said that Kohli won’t be the first cricketer to give up captaincy and focus on his batting.
“The same might happen with the ODI. He might say he wants to focus just on Test captaincy. It is his mind and body that will make that decision.
“He won't be the first, there are many players in the past who have had very successful tenures and captains and then given it up to focus on batting,” Shastri said backing Kohli on whatever decision he takes in the future.
The former all-rounder also hailed Kohli as the “greatest ambassador of Test cricket” in the last five years despite the century-drought he has been facing since November 2019.
