Former Indian Head Coach acknowledged that he expected Kohli to lead in the Birmingham Test

3 years AGO
Virat
Virat Verma Cricket expert
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Ravi Shastri says I would've recommended to the board that it's only fair he leads because he was part of the team that was leading 2-1 in the series

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has acknowledged that he expected Kohli to lead when Rohit was injured for the Birmingham Test against England that was rescheduled while Shastri said that he would have asked Kohli to take the lead if he had been the match’s head coach.

It did feel unsatisfying for Virat Kohli to step down as India’s captain from all three formats of the game. There are still many who wonder if Kohli can return as India’s skipper for one last match as the cricketing world still trying to understand what happened between India’s finest Test skipper to date and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). 

Even though his return as Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper, gave fans something to cheer about, former India head coach Ravi Shastri has acknowledged that he expected Kohli to lead when Rohit was injured for the Birmingham Test against England that was rescheduled.

Rohit was absent due to a Covid-19 infection while it was Jasprit Bumrah who led the Indian team for the rescheduled 5th Test against Ben Stokes’ squad. Kohli was the series captain for the first four Test matches. Despite Rohit’s absence, Virat did not make a U-turn, not even for the solitary match. Shastri said that he would have asked Kohli to take the lead if he had been the match’s head coach.

“I thought he (Kohli) would (lead the side). Once Rohit was injured (positive Covid-19 report), I thought he would be asked. If I was still there, I would’ve. I’m sure Rahul might have done the same thing; I don’t know, I haven’t spoken to him, but I would’ve recommended to the board that it’s only fair he leads because he was part of the team that was leading 2-1 in the series. And he probably could’ve gotten the best out of players,”

Shastri said in an interview on ESPNCricinfo.

When asked if doubts over leading the country would’ve prevented Kohli from taking up the baton for the said match, Shastri rejected the idea.

“Not at all. It’s an honor leading your country. These are circumstances where you got to put your best foot forward. Your regular captain is injured, he’s not part of the team, so seeing what’s at stake, beating England in England, 2-1 up… how many teams beat England and Australia in the same year, overseas?”

Shastri further said.

Could it be possible for Kohli to come back and lead India again, maybe in the World Test Championship final this year? Shastri is dreaming and so are millions of fans.