'While MS Dhoni Was Captain, My Eye Was on Virat Kohli': Ravi Shastri

Former India coach Ravi Shastri revealed when he saw the captaincy potential in Virat Kohli as he went on to become one of the most successful Indian captains in Indian cricket. Shastri and Kohli formed a solid partnership as India’s head coach and captain as the duo took the team to big heights, especially in Test cricket.

Before taking over the coaching duties, Shastri also assumed the role of national team director in 2014 when MS Dhoni was the captain of the side while Kohli was his deputy.

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Identifying Kohli as an “uncut diamond,” Shastri said he saw the potential for the Indian captaincy early on.

“There was a lot of individual brilliance but I wanted to see team brilliance. I wanted to win and to make Test cricket paramount and identified an uncut diamond in Virat Kohli.

“While (MS) Dhoni was my captain, my eye was on him (Kohli). I told him very early in my second month: ‘It’ll take time but watch, observe, be ready (for the captaincy)’.

Shastri hailed Kohli’s approach towards Test cricket and said as a captain he was prepared to play tough cricket which aligned with his thoughts too.

“Kohli was fully engaged with Test cricket. He was passionate. He was prepared to do the hard yards and was prepared to play tough cricket, which fitted my way of thinking. When you play Australia or Pakistan you’ve got to have a ‘no complaints’, ‘no excuses’ attitude.”

Talking about their partnership, Shastri said they were on the same page in terms of creating a potent pace force. The rest was history as India won back-to-back Test series in Australia and drew five-Test series in England.

“We were on the same page and wanted a battery of fast bowlers. He was ready for a scrap. He wanted to play hard. We made it a free-for-all in the nets. You were allowed to bounce the shit out of anyone. He was the first guy to embrace it; he was quite prepared to look ugly in the nets and the mindset changed.”

Addressing concerns about India’s 40 per cent share of ICC revenues, Shastri suggested a nuanced approach.

While acknowledging India’s economic contribution to the game, he proposes utilising a portion of the funds to assist countries in need.

“From the 40 per cent they can make use of a certain amount to help certain countries that need it.

“I’ve not had those conversations, but that’s what I would keep in mind. One way of looking at it is to say: when we were in the dumps, who helped us?

“(But) my argument would be let’s see how the world game can prosper and how Test cricket can prosper.”

Expressing his views on the future of cricket formats, Shastri firmly believes that T20 should serve as the “vehicle” for the game’s expansion into new territories.

He envisions a football-style model with a thriving T20 franchised circuit, fewer bilateral internationals, ICC World Cups, and Test match cricket played among countries with the infrastructure to support it.

“T20 is following the football model. It will happen. It’s inevitable, so be ready for it,” he says.

“That money will help Test cricket to survive but it can only survive if it is Test cricket, so you need the strongest teams playing against each other and the best players to be available. It has to be best versus best, otherwise it’s not Test cricket,” he concluded.