Former India coach, Ravi Shastri has revealed that a particular stat about former Indian skipper, Virat Kohli that emerged during the rearranged Test match against England left him in utter shock. Kohli’s form in international cricket has come under scrutiny recently, with a lot of people have been questioning his spot in the T20I team for the upcoming T20 World Cup in Australia.
Speaking in a press conference organized by Star Sports, as quoted in Hindustan Times, Ravi Shastri said that he was left in shock when he came to know that Virat had played three times the number of marches as compared to the likes of other stalwarts David Warner, Kane Williamson, Babar Azam, and Joe Root.
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Recalling the same, Ravi Shastri said, “Sometimes, it is important that when we talk about this rest and all that. Later on, you realise that when you are back in the media, you are doing all television, people come out with star. One stat that emerged during a Test match against England, which shocked me, really. It said that in the last three years, when you look at the top players in the world, that is [Kane] Williamson, David Warner, Babar Azam, Virat Kohli and Joe Root, Virat had played three times the number of games as everyone else across all cricket.”
He further added, “So it shocked me where he was at about 950 games and that next was at 400. They had played less than half. When you are captain of a side, playing all three formats, it takes a toll. And it would have sucked whatever out of him. And that’s why the break might just help him come around and do wonders.”
The former India coach also said that Kohli must have learned a lot from the rough patch he is going through at the moment.
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Elaborating the same, Ravi Shastri said, “People keep saying… it’s often used that one or two innings can make a difference. But with a player like this, it can make a massive difference because he has got fitness, he has got physical strength. Performance will get the mental strength back and the hunger and passion remain undiminished. Let me assure you that.”
He further explained, “He is hungry, passionate and must have learned from this patch that he has gone through. All players do. When you are suddenly on the rise right at the pinnacle of your career and then have a slump which brings you right down, then it’s your character that makes you get up and stand and fight again.”
