Former India head coach Ravi Shastri recently recounted how he saw early leadership qualities in Kohli. First leading the team in an Adelaide match against Australia in December 2014, Kohli assumed full captaincy in January 2015 following MS Dhoni’s abrupt retirement. Remarkably, starting in 2014, Shastri also served as Team India’s director.
For personal reasons, star Indian batsman Virat Kohli has withdrawn from the entire five-match Test series against England. Notably, in his more than 12-year Test career, this is the first time that Kohli has ever missed a whole Test series. Since making his debut in 2011, the 35-year-old has demonstrated a dedication to playing the longest format and has been among the most ardent advocates for the continuation of cricket’s oldest format.
Although there was a lot of individual talent, I like to see collective talent. I saw an uncut diamond in Virat Kohli and wanted to win and elevate Test cricket. As my captain, I had my eye fixed on Kohli (MS Dhoni). It will take time, but watch, observe, and be ready (for the captaincy),” I told him very early in my second month. Shastri was cited by the Hindustan Times as adding.
With 40 victories from 68 matches, Kohli ranks as the fourth-most successful captain in the history of the sport. He had an incredible record while leading the test team. His aggressiveness on the field demonstrated his desire to excel in the format.
Virat Kohli was totally absorbed in the Test match. He had a lot of passion. He was ready to put in the hard work and play competitive cricket, which aligned with my philosophy. You have to play with a “no complaints” and “no excuses” mentality when you play Australia or Pakistan, Shastri continued.
India tied a series in England by 2-2 in 2021–22 and won their first-ever series in Australia by 2-1 in 2018–19 under Kohli’s leadership. Speaking ahead of time, Shastri acknowledged that Kohli supported fast bowlers, who all thrived under his guidance both at home and away.
We both agreed that we needed a succession of quick bowlers: Ravi Shastri
“We had the same idea and desired a succession of quick bowlers. He was prepared for a fight. He wanted to play aggressively. We let everyone loose in the nets. You could bounce the s*** out of anyone. He added, “The mindset changed and he was the first guy to embrace it; he was quite prepared to look ugly in the nets.”
Following India’s 1-2 defeat in a Test series in South Africa, Kohli announced his resignation as captain of the team in January 2022.
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