Virat Kohli could have continued as Test captain for 2 more years but we should respect his decision: Ravi Shastri
India Today
Speaking exclusively to India Today from Oman, former India coach Ravi Shastri said not many would have been able to digest Virat Kohli's success as Test captain if he had continued in the role for at least another couple of years.
World Cup-winning all-rounder and former India head coach Ravi Shastri said he feels Virat Kohli could have continued as Test captain for a couple more years but added that not many would have been able to digest the fact that he could end up with 50-60 wins as captain in the longest format of the game.
Speaking to India Today, Ravi Shastri, who is currently in Oman as the Commissioner of Legends League Cricket, said the cricket community should respect Virat Kohli's decision to step down as Test captain.
Kohli, who is India's most successful Test captain with 40 victories in 60 matches, made an unforeseen announcement earlier this month as he brought an end to his 7-year-long tenure as India's Test captain. He stepped down a day after India lost a 3-Test series 2-1 to South Africa in South Africa.
Kohli's decision helped raise quite a few eyebrows as he had said in September last year that he wanted to continue leading India in Tests and ODIs when he announced his decision to quit T20I captaincy. In a dramatic turn of events thereafter, Kohli was sacked as ODI captain and the star batter eventually stepped down from the leadership role in Tests, which he prioritized over the years.
"Whether Virat could have continued to lead India in Tests. For sure, he could have led India for at least 2 years because next two years India would be playing at home and who is coming over - 9 and 10 jacks, going by the rankings. But he would have then made it to 50-60 wins under his captaincy and a lot of people will not be able to digest that fact," Shastri said.
"Two years, he could have carried on but we should respect his decision. In any other country, this kind of record is incredible. You won against Australia, England and lost 1-2 to South Africa but still, there are debates if he should be the captain or not," he added.
Shastri, who had forged a fantastic working relationship with Kohli during his tenure as head coach from 2017 to 2021, heaped praise on Kohli's captaincy, saying very few in the world possess a record that the star batter has as a leader.
