Ravi Shastri Gets Emotional Talking About Virat Kohli’s Test Retirement, Hints At Lack Of Communication From BCCI’s Side News24 –

Few have been as intricately linked to Virat Kohli’s Test career as Ravi Shastri. From observing his early years to guiding him through peaks and troughs, Shastri witnessed it all from a vantage seat one of Indian cricket’s greatest careers. When news of Kohli’s retirement from Test cricket emerged, then, it was no surprise that the erstwhile India head coach was visibly shaken.

Ravi Shastri Gets Emotional On Virat Kohli’s Retirement

During a pre-series discussion on Sony Sports ahead of India’s five-Test series against England, Shastri, known for his composed and confident demeanor, appeared visibly emotional while reflecting on Kohli’s retirement. He acknowledged that Kohli had hinted at this decision much earlier back in April in a private conversation with him. But now that it’s official, the reality has hit hard.

“Virat has announced his retirement from Test matches, which is sad, you know, because he’s a great player. A great player. It’s only when you go that people truly realise how big a player you were. Stats don’t do justice — it’s about the way he carried himself, especially as an ambassador for Test match cricket, particularly overseas. The way he played at Lord’s, and how his team turned things around — it was unreal. And I’m glad I was a part of it,” Shastri said.

“Could Have Been Handled Better” Says Shastri

Shastri opined that Kohli, whom many hail as one of the torchbearers of Test cricket of the modern era, deserved a more appropriate farewell. He voiced his disapproval of how things went down, hinting that retirement could have been managed better or done with greater respect.

“I feel sad that he’s gone the way he has — suddenly. I think it could have been handled better, maybe with more communication.”

Missed Leadership Opportunity?

“If I had anything to do with it, I would’ve made him captain straight after Australia,” he added.

One of the most notable takeaways from Shastri’s comments was his indirect reference to a missed chance, the idea that the BCCI selectors could have reinstated Kohli as captain. There were speculations about a senior player being ready to lead again which was widely believed to be Kohli but the selectors went forward with Shubman Gill as the new Test captain of India.