Former India head coach Ravi Shastri opened up about a candid conversation he had with Virat Kohli just a week before the latter’s unexpected retirement from Test cricket. Shastri admitted he was taken aback by the decision but, in hindsight, felt that Kohli’s words during their exchange hinted that the time had indeed come for him to step away.
Virat Kohli Announces Retirement From Test Cricket
Kohli made the official announcement on Monday through Instagram, five days after Rohit Sharma retired from Tests. The 36-year-old ended his Test career as India’s fourth-highest run-scorer with 9,230 runs, including 30 centuries.
Conversation Between Kohli And Shastri
Following the announcement, it was reported that Kohli had called Shastri a person he had a close rapport with when he was a player before finally deciding. Shastri corroborated this during an interview with the ICC Review, mentioning that while he was surprised by the decision, Kohli’s body language and words during their discussion left no doubt that the psychological and emotional strain of being in the limelight perpetually, combined with his high-voltage personality, had generated a feeling of burnout.
No Doubts In Kohli’s Mind Regarding Retirement
“I did speak to him about it, I think a week before that [his announcement] and his mind was very clear that he’d given us everything,” Shastri told Sanjana Ganesan.
“There were no regrets. There were one or two questions I asked, and that’s a personal conversation which, you know, he mentioned very clearly, there were no doubts in his mind, which made me think, ‘Yes, the time is right’. The mind has told his body that it’s time to go.”
Burnout After Playing Across Formats
“If he decided to do something, then he gave his 100%, which is not easy to match. Individually, as a bowler, as a batsman,”
“A player does his job, [and] then you sit back. But [with Kohli] when the team goes out, it’s as if he has to take all the wickets, he has to take all the catches, he has to make all the decisions on the field.
“That much involvement, I would think there’s going to be a burnout somewhere if he doesn’t take a rest, if he doesn’t compartmentalise how much he wants to play across formats, there is bound to be a burnout.”
“He Had Atleast 2-3 Years Of Test Cricket Left” Says Shastri
“Virat surprised me because I thought he had at least two-three years of Test match cricket left in him,” he said.
Shastri thought that though he always felt Kohli had a couple of years more to give, particularly in a format he loved and played with pride, he did finally respect the timing and rationale behind the move.
Mental Exhaustion And Physical Health
“But then, when you’re mentally fried and overcooked, that’s what tells your body. You might be physically the fittest guy in the business. You might be fitter than half the guys in your team, but mentally you’re well done, as they say, then it sends a message to the body. You know, that’s it.”
“At times when you quit the game, you know, and after a month or two months you say, ‘I wish I had done this, I wish I had done this.’
“[Kohli] He’s done everything. He’s captained sides, he’s won World Cups, he’s won an Under-19 World Cup [2008] himself. I mean, there’s nothing for him to achieve.”
