Former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri sheds a light on Virat Kohli's sudden retirement from Test Cricket ahead of the five-match Test series between India and England. He said that if he had anything to do with the decision-making process, then without even thinking, he would have given the Test Captaincy to Virat Kohli after the Australia test series, which ended earlier this year.
The captaincy of the Indian men's cricket team is a topic of discussion in recent times, which is taking no time to end soon. Rohit Sharma announced his retirement from Test cricket in the middle of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 as selectors made it clear they were looking to move on from him. To which, after his retirement, Shubman Gill has been appointed as the new captain of the Indian Test Cricket Team. He will soon be seen leading the team against England in a test starting on June 20. After Rohit's retirement, Virat also announced his retirement from the format, which he loved the most.
Shastri was the head coach of the Indian team from 2017 to 2021, when Kohli was the captain, and shared many proud moments with him in Test cricket. He believed that his retirement could have been handled better.
He said,
"It's when you go, then, that's when people will realize how big a player he was." I feel sad that he is gone and the way he is gone."
"I think it could have been handled better. There should have been more communication. If I had anything to do with it, I would have made him captain straightaway after Australia."
The 36-year-old ended his Test career with 9230 runs in 123 matches at an average of 46.85, smashing 30 centuries to his name. His form took a bit of a rise in the first test in Perth against Australia when he smashed the century, but again the poor form continues, which was seen in the last five years.
Further, Shastri added,
"Stats don't do justice. The way he was an ambassador for Test cricket, especially the way he played overseas. I am glad I was part of it."
Ajit Agarkar, chairman of selectors, while announcing the squad of the Indian Test Team against England, said that Kohli reached out to them in April about his decision to retire from the format.
"Virat reached out in early April and said he wants to finish. We've seen him give 200% to every ball that he plays, even when he is not batting or he's in the field. He probably felt that he had given everything that he had, and if he couldn't keep up to the standards that he set for himself over the years and how good he had been, maybe it was time for him. It has come from him; you have got to respect that."
Now, a new Indian team will be seen in the five-Test match series against England starting on June 20.