‘Chup kar diya na sabko?’ – Ravi Shastri opens up after Virat Kohli’s MCG heroics against Pakistan
Ravi Shastri, Virat Kohli (Image Source: Twitter)
A day after the Virat Kohli storm settled down in Melbourne, Ravi Shastri, the former India head coach, opened up on the heroic innings from the Indian veteran that saw India crushing Pakistan with 4 wickets to spare on October 23, Sunday. For the unversed, the Indian giant scored an unbeaten 82 off 53 balls and helped team India chase down the target of 160. The ‘Chase Master’ pulled off a stunner and silenced the critics who wanted the batter out of the 20-20 World Cup squad.
Shastri, in an exclusive interview with the Indian Express, said that the batter silenced the critics and added that he got emotional watching the spectacle unfold right in front of his eyes. Reliving his early days as a coach with the then-captain Kohli, Shastri said that he struck a chord with the veteran in terms of personality.
“I got emotional when it was all unfolding. I have seen what he has gone through in the last couple of years. We all know the recent context. Did I have something to say to him at the end? Frankly, not a thing. We are a country with short memories; topi masters of the world! We flip, change in two minutes. Kohli knows what I feel. I know what he feels. What’s there to be said? Not a thing,” Shastri said in the interview with the Indian Express.
It was his character that stood out for me then: Ravi Shastri
Heaping praise on Hardik Pandya for putting on a 100-run partnership with Kohli, Shastri said that the allrounder “helped Virat to stay on the right track”. He added that the 28-year-old “reignited as a champion”. “With Virat, my association started in 2014; it’s been 8 years now. I love the other young cricketers too but with Virat, since he was the captain and I was the coach, it was obviously a different relationship,” Shastri recalled his early days as team India’s head coach.
“I saw something similar to myself in Virat. To start from No. 10 and to open and do what I did, I am proud of it. You need balls. Virat is a superior talent than me of course, but I sensed a similarity of character. That drive. That steel,” said the former Indian cricketer further.
“What’s next for Virat Kohli? I have no expectations, just let him enjoy his life. The media and critics have put enough pressure on this uncut diamond and he showed who he is. Chup kar diya na sabko?! (He has silenced everyone, right?!)” Shastri added.
