Most Influential Cricketer of the Decade: Shastri on Kohli’s Legacy

Tags: India,
Virat Kohli,
Ravishankar Jayadritha Shastri

Printed on: Might 14, 2025

Virat Kohli’s retirement from Check cricket has evoked an emotional outpouring from the cricketing fraternity, with tributes pouring in from legends and contemporaries alike. Among the many most heartfelt was former India coach and long-time mentor Ravi Shastri, who hailed Kohli because the “most influential cricketer of the final decade” and a “modern-day large.”

Talking to Cricbuzz on Monday, simply hours after Kohli’s retirement announcement, Shastri mirrored on their outstanding journey collectively. “He belonged to a distinct class of cricketers,” stated Shastri. “He has been essentially the most influential cricketer of the final decade — not simply in India, however throughout the cricketing world.”

Shastri and Kohli’s partnership is extensively thought-about probably the most profitable coach-captain alliances in Indian cricket historical past. Their affiliation started in 2014 when Kohli took over the Check captaincy mid-series in Australia, and it continued by means of two distinct phases — from 2014 to 2016, after which from 2017 till Shastri’s departure in 2021.

“There are numerous unforgettable reminiscences — some immensely private. He performed a model of cricket related to no different Indian captain. As I wrote in my publish, he’s really a modern-day large,” Shastri added.

Below their mixed management, Indian cricket scaled unprecedented heights. India gained back-to-back Border-Gavaskar Trophy collection in Australia — in 2018–19 and once more in 2020–21, the latter with out Kohli for many of the collection. India remained the No. 1 ranked Check workforce for six consecutive years (2016–2021), a feat that speaks volumes concerning the consistency and dominance of Kohli’s management.

Certainly one of their main ODI highlights got here in 2018 when India clinched a historic 5-1 collection win in South Africa — their first bilateral ODI collection win within the nation, breaking a long-standing jinx.

Kohli and Shastri additionally guided India to the semi-finals of the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup, the place India topped the league stage with a dominant efficiency. Although the marketing campaign led to heartbreak, it was a testomony to the power and imaginative and prescient of their management.

Shastri, recognized to be greater than only a coach — sometimes called Kohli’s pal, thinker, and information — took to social media earlier with an emotional publish:

“Can’t imagine you’re executed. You’re a modern-day GIANT and have been a implausible ambassador for Check match cricket in each manner you performed and captained. Thanks for the lasting reminiscences you’ve given to everybody, and to me particularly. It’s one thing I’ll cherish for all times. Go nicely, champ. God bless.”

Their ultimate marketing campaign collectively was the ICC T20 World Cup within the UAE in 2021 — a event that additionally marked the top of Kohli’s tenure as India’s limited-overs captain.

In a becoming tribute, Shastri summed it up poignantly: “He’s one who belongs to all courses of nice cricketers. Interval.”