The childhood coach of Virat Kohli, Rajkumar Sharma has expressed his disappointment as Kohli has slipped to the fifth spot in the latest ICC Test batsman rankings. Kohli was placed at fourth before the series against England. However, his poor form in respect to Joe Root’s sublime form with the bat has seen the changes as well.

During a discussion on India News, Rajkumar Sharma said: “It is shocking news for me that Virat Kohli has fallen to the fifth spot. I was expecting that Joe Root would have probably gone ahead of him. I will definitely talk to him.”

However, he also added that Kohli was not too concerned about his from and felt a big hundred is coming soon. Sharma elaborated: “I don’t feel there is any need to motivate him because he is extremely motivated. When I had spoken to him after the last match as well, he was quite excited and was happy that they had won and was not too worried about his runs. When he has such an attitude, a big hundred is about to come.”

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Meanwhile, Joe Root has moved up to the second spot in the ICC Test batsman rankings, Kane Williamson, Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne are also before him by more than a hundred points as well.

He further added: “It is not a challenge but he [Root] has batted fantastically. I have always said that that he is an amazing player because he has a very good temperament and technique in any case. When he plays on his home ground and especially against India, I feel he is extremely motivated.”

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“I would say it is a challenge for Virat to chase Joe Root. I have full hope because I have known Virat from his childhood, he loves challenges. So it is a good challenge and we will see a good contest in the upcoming matches,” he concluded.