logo
EXCLUSIVE — Ravi Shastri: Virat is the most influential cricketer of the last decade

EXCLUSIVE — Ravi Shastri: Virat is the most influential cricketer of the last decade

The Hindu19-05-2025

Knowing Virat Kohli has been a great privilege. I saw him grow, not just as a cricketer, but as a force of nature. From a fiery young talent to the colossus who came to define an era, he rose not by chance, but through an almost obsessive devotion to his craft. It was his punishing hard work that drove him to the summit.
And with him, he lifted Indian cricket, transforming it into a powerhouse, feared and respected, the most formidable team on the planet. Being part of this team built by Virat will remain special to my heart.
From Sunil Gavaskar to Sachin Tendulkar, I have not encountered a cricketer with such a fierce desire to play the game. He wanted to own it and did that with his unbridled passion and energy. He had the rare ability to stare down his opponent, seize control of the battle, and bend its rhythm to his will — a quality that placed Virat in a league of his own.
How do I look at Virat? An individual who had no challenge. A leader who cracked the whip to extract the best out of his team. A great ambassador for Test cricket when the format was losing out to the explosion of T20 cricket. True, T20 brings in the moolah, but Virat brought the fans to the Test arenas, at home and overseas.
Tendulkar's magical knocks drew cricket lovers from all over the world. Virat, too, achieved that status on the strength of his stupendous passion and talent, which he kept honing by accepting his role as the greatest ambassador for red-ball cricket.
To me, he is also the greatest red-ball captain ever. Forty wins in 68 Tests as captain places him in a rare category.
He was a man who loved to be in the thick of action. The camera would pick him in different acts — as a fielder, batsman, taking fantastic catches, inflicting incredible run-outs. You couldn't take him out of the game — he wouldn't let you.
At the fall of every wicket, he was the first to reach the bowler, roaring, clapping, and leading. When he ran between the wickets, he didn't just run; he sprinted the fastest for the second and third runs. And when he celebrated, it was volcanic: fist pumping, feet thumping, joy uncontained and contagious. He didn't just want to win; he wanted the world to feel it with him.
Virat Kohli's duel with Aussie speedster Mitchell Johnson added spice to India's 2014 Tour Down Under. | Photo Credit: AP
I don't like comparisons. I've been asked about Gavaskar and Tendulkar. I was lucky enough to share the dressing room with them. But I saw Virat from a different vantage — not just from the comfort of the broadcaster's box, but through the suffocating pressure that only a dressing room can know. I saw him walk out not to play cricket, but to command it. To own the battlefield. In doing so, he didn't just win games; he rewired how India played cricket.
It was exciting plotting those Test victories. His batting form was paramount to the cause, but it was not just about coaching, making runs or taking wickets. Credit should be given to the magnificent work by the support staff, which made India the best fielding side in the world. It was collective, but Virat's positivity was critical to India's success. It was unreal the way he took on the responsibility of thinking for every member of the team.
Virat was the most reassuring presence for newcomers, a captain who stood firmly behind his players. The way he backed them, especially in difficult moments, drew out their best. Players embraced his leadership with the same trust and enthusiasm once reserved for M.S. Dhoni.
Virat was, in every sense, a player's captain — giving everything he had, and expecting nothing less from those around him. His handling of the Mohammed Shami episode exemplifies how he stood up for his teammate when the fast bowler was subjected to unfair social media trolling after the 10-wicket loss to Pakistan in the 2021 T20 World Cup.
I can rate Virat the best batsman of the modern era. A complete batsman who came to eliminate his flaws and turn them into assets on the pitch. At one stage of his career, his average across all three formats was 50-plus. What a phenomenal figure he was in world cricket. You had to see the joy enveloping his opponents when they saw his back. Getting Virat's wicket was a throwback to when the opponents were assured of a comfortable position on getting the scalps of Gavaskar and Tendulkar.
Do you remember how he rebuilt himself for England? He must have doubted his credentials after the nightmare tour of 2014 (134 runs in five Tests). Four years later, he returned to conquer. He toyed with the English attack (593 runs in five Tests). On his way to that long-awaited century on English soil, he walked the tightrope between restraint and radiance at Edgbaston. He tamed James Anderson — England's master of movement — not with swagger, but with patience. It was a masterclass in defensive batting. He assumed the stature of greatness on that tour.
And if that England tour revealed his resolve, Australia revealed his appetite. The seven Test centuries he hit in Australia confirmed his greed to excel. He studied the conditions, understood when to leave, when to strike, and always, when to fight.
Virat's work ethic was the most infectious trait that galvanised the team into world cricket's most performing and fit bunch. He was a terror for the opposition but a friend and guide for his teammates. I have seen players from the opposition approach him for guidance, and Virat was always eager to help. I have seen him part with some excellent bats because he was not an insecure competitor.
It was common to see Virat go through his fitness drills without being prompted, taking 40 to 50 catches and practising run-outs from different positions and angles. His drive for perfection was nothing short of madness. I remember this Test at Cape Town in 2018. India lost the Test, but Virat's show of tenacity left us all stunned. He hit a first-innings century (153) in the next match at Centurion that took the wind out of the South African bowlers.
To prepare for the second Test, he hit the nets with bowlers who were instructed to bounce the ball from 18 yards. He didn't flinch. He chose to meet fire with fire, and that's when my admiration for him deepened. He was the ultimate team man — selfless, relentless, unbreakable. He didn't just lead the team; he became its heartbeat. And when the fight got tough, you could bet he'd be the last man standing.
Virat was a captain forged in fire: relentless in pursuit, unwavering in intent. Every waking hour was bent toward one goal: to make India the best in the world. And he did. Under his leadership, India climbed to the top of the Test rankings, and more importantly, began conquering the final frontier — winning overseas.
What set him apart wasn't just his numbers, but his grit — a refusal to back down, especially against the best in the business. I can never forget his verbal exchange in 2014 with Mitchell Johnson in Melbourne. He kept needling the Aussie during the lunch break. Both stared at each other, but I could see that Virat's ferocity gave the Australian a strong message. A fight was on. It surely was. Virat hammered a sensational century (169) to win his battle with the bowlers in a draw that saw India emerge with heads held high.
Of the centuries he has scored in Australia, I am fascinated by the one in Perth in 2018. It was a fast track with the ball flying around, but he tore into the bowlers even as most other batsmen looked ordinary on that pitch. Tendulkar also hit a century in Perth in 1992, but then the conditions were so different.
I am sure Virat still had two years of Test cricket left in him. I would have loved to see him in England this summer. It would have been a good idea to hand him the captaincy for the tour, but he would know best why he decided to leave. Maybe mental fatigue drove him to decide because he was as fit as any other player in the team.
He knew his body best, but the mind would have played the decisive role. I will not rule out burnout as the decisive factor in curtailing his career at a critical phase of Indian cricket.
For me, Virat will remain the most influential cricketer of the last decade. He had fans worldwide, especially those who turned up at Test matches to watch him bat like no one else. A batsman who could hit a boundary at will and someone who would pick the best bowler in the opposition camp to send a strong message.
Undoubtedly the most scrutinised batsman in world cricket, he was also the best prepared to fight in the middle. His making people watch Test cricket will be an enduring legacy. The team will forever miss his wild celebrations at the fall of a wicket and the joy he expressed at a partner's batting feat.
He is still around to serve Indian cricket in ODIs, but I also know that Virat will walk away from the game once he is done playing cricket. He is not the kind who would like to coach or take on the role of a broadcaster. I will miss him when India plays its first Test in England. He was a champion, and that is what I would like to remember — never conceding an inch.
As told to Vijay Lokapally

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Bills quarterback Josh Allen shows off new ring following marriage to actor Hailee Steinfeld
Bills quarterback Josh Allen shows off new ring following marriage to actor Hailee Steinfeld

Mint

time27 minutes ago

  • Mint

Bills quarterback Josh Allen shows off new ring following marriage to actor Hailee Steinfeld

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Josh Allen's broad grin was familiar. The wedding band on the quarterback's ring finger was brand new. As much as Allen hoped to talk about the Buffalo Bills on Tuesday, the newlywed couldn't escape questions about his headline-grabbing marriage to actor/singer Hailee Steinfeld in Southern California on May 31. 'We're back to football,' he said, before pointing to his ring finger. 'Got some hardware now. So, good to go.' Allen was otherwise short on details as part of his longstanding bid to maintain a semblance of privacy, even though pictures from the outdoor wedding were posted on social media mere minutes after the couple exchanged 'I do's.' There were pictures of Steinfeld wearing a strapless white gown walking down the aisle, the couple sharing a kiss, and Allen, in a black tuxedo, posing with friends and Bills teammates. It wasn't until being asked about what the past four months have meant to him — in which Allen was named NFL MVP in February, signed one of the league's richest contracts in March and got married in May — that Allen finally opened up. He called Steinfeld his best friend, and said she makes everything easier. 'That was the most important decision I'll make in my life and I made the right one,' Allen said. Western New York and the NFL have a new power couple, both of whom happen to be from California and began dating two years ago. There's the 29-year-old Allen, who in seven seasons has set most of the Bills scoring and passing records. His star has continued to rise while he has transformed the Bills into an AFC power, also building his profile through various national commercials. And then there's Steinfeld, 28, who first gained fame by earning an Oscar nomination for best supporting actress for her role as Mattie Ross in the Coen brothers' 2010 remake of 'True Grit.' She has since enjoyed numerous starring roles, most recently in the movie 'Sinners,' while also branching out into music. Amid the buzz, Allen brought the focus back to football as Buffalo opened a three-day mandatory set of practices. The quarterback skipped the team's voluntary sessions last week. Aside from taking his familiar spot leading the offense on the field, Allen spent time after practice being filmed to measure his footwork and mechanics. It's something Allen does several times a year to ensure he's not picking up bad habits. 'Making sure we're staying on top of those things and if there's something that we need to tweak for the better, we are going to try to do it,' he said. The same could be said of Allen's unflinching approach to dealing with the spotlight. Coach Sean McDermott credits the quarterback for staying true to himself. 'What I've seen is this truly genuine, authentic person who, yes, is in the limelight, yes, is one of the top players in our league, and maybe the top player in the NFL,' McDermott said. 'But he is so authentic, so down-to-earth, so relatable. I think that's really the connection and the cool piece about Josh is because he is who he is.' And yes, McDermott was among those in attendance at the wedding. 'I was very grateful to be there, No. 1,' McDermott said. 'Two, it was what you would expect of a wedding. Just great to see, and two really special families coming together.' AP NFL:

Ace Indian race walker Priyanka Goswami notches first win of season
Ace Indian race walker Priyanka Goswami notches first win of season

The Hindu

time44 minutes ago

  • The Hindu

Ace Indian race walker Priyanka Goswami notches first win of season

Ace Indian race walker Priyanka Goswami notched her first win of the season, taking the top spot in the women's 10km event at the Austrian Race Walking Championships in Innsbruck. Goswami clocked 47 minute and 54 second to win the 10km race walk on Monday. Her pet event is, though, 20km race walk in which she holds the national record holder of 1:28:45. She has a personal best of 45 minute 47 seconds in the 10km event which she had clocked in 2022. 'I finished even after a one minute penalty... it was not easy to finish (to win gold) after the penalty and fever,' the 29-year-old Goswami wrote on her social media handles. Goswami also competes in longer distance events. She had finished second in the Athletics Victoria Walking Championships in Melbourne in May with a time of 2 hour, 26 minute and 54 seconds. In the men's 35km race walk event in Innsbruck, Sandeep Kumar finished second, clocking 2:38:45 while Ram Baboo was third with 2:41:47.

Genelia D'Souza praises Virat Kohli's camaraderie after RCB's emotional IPL 2025 victory after 18 years: 'He went to AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle...'
Genelia D'Souza praises Virat Kohli's camaraderie after RCB's emotional IPL 2025 victory after 18 years: 'He went to AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle...'

Time of India

timean hour ago

  • Time of India

Genelia D'Souza praises Virat Kohli's camaraderie after RCB's emotional IPL 2025 victory after 18 years: 'He went to AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle...'

Genelia D'Souza, who is gearing up for the release of Sitaare Zameen Par alongside Aamir Khan, recently opened up about Virat Kohli 's historic IPL 2025 win and the powerful emotions surrounding it. Speaking to Filmygyan, the actress praised Virat 's gesture of acknowledging his longtime teammates AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle . 'It was very special to see Virat win after 18 years and see the camaraderie. I think teamwork is the most important,' she shared. 'The fact that Virat went to De Villiers and Chris Gayle and said, 'these people fought for 18 years'—I mean, these are moments that, as an audience, you watch and think, yeah, we should also feel this in our lives.' Bhawna Kohli Dhingra pens emotional note for brother Virat As Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) clinched their first-ever IPL trophy, Virat Kohli's sister Bhawna Kohli Dhingra expressed her joy on Instagram with a heartfelt message and several pictures of Virat and Anushka Sharma . 'This night, this moment where we celebrate this dream which made us cry, which made us laugh; but the wait that you did is far too long,' she wrote. 'Each and every second of the moment needs to be experienced with stillness and a strange calmness that it's actually done.' Thanking the fans, she added, 'This win is everybody's personal win. Your tears were felt in the eyes of everyone who loves you. We cried with you because you, my little Veeru, are God's chosen one who brings so much joy and inspiration to everyone.' Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This Device Made My Power Bill Drop Overnight elecTrick - Save upto 80% on Power Bill Pre-Order Undo She concluded with an emotional reference to their late father, writing, 'Someone in heaven is smiling in his usual smile, looking at his son making him proud.' Ritesh Deshmukh and Genelia Spotted at Bandra Cafe with Son Troll questions her bond with Virat; Bhawna's graceful reply wins hearts As her emotional post went viral, a troll commented, 'Why does he never mention you in any speech or like your post? Not even Anushka does, lol.' In response, Bhawna maintained her composure and replied with grace: 'May God give you the patience to understand love can exist in many ways, which is not necessarily shown to the world, but it's still there—like the love for almighty. Hope you have enough love in your life, no insecurities, only true bonds which don't need any validation. God bless you.' Anushka Sharma was by Virat's side as they celebrated RCB's victory with a grand parade in Bengaluru. She shared joyful moments from the ride through the cheering crowd.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store