Virat Kohli came up with a sensational 82 off 53 to win India the match against Pakistan. His heroics where he snatched a win from the jaws of defeat brought about one of India’s most memorable wins. With this knock, he has also announced his ascent to the pinnacle of the sport which had eluded him for a long time. Following his match-winning knock, India’s former head coach Ravi Shastri has laid massive praise on Kohli.
“For him, this knock would have helped in rediscovery: of himself, his love for the game, what he can do, and the road ahead. Clarity would be crystal clear; it’s usually a byproduct of confidence. The rediscovery of things he would have fathomed during the break. For the cricketing world, he was a superstar even before the knock; now let them decide what he is to them. I am not going to put in words for them,” Shastri told Indian Express. He also advised the Indian batter to just enjoy his game as he has already proved his mettle.
“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?!)”
He is a wiser man now- Ravi Shastri
Shastri also talked about Kohli’s struggle with mental health and underconfidence. The former Indian cricketer said that he saw himself in Kohli.
“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. I saw an uncut diamond. When I saw him going through stuff in the last year or so, deep inside I wasn’t bothered as I knew he is too tough a character. I knew he would bounce back; the only thing was he needed to be in that space to self-reflect. Here is where that break helped. He is a wiser man now.” Talking of his innings, Shastri claimed it to be the best T20 game he has ever seen and lauded the two sixes as game-changers.
Without that temperament, he couldn’t have done what he did on Sunday night. It’s the best ever T20 game I have ever seen. For the first time I felt a T20 game was like a classic Test match. The ebbs, the flows, the pressure, the skill … it was a Test match of a T20. My cricketing take away from the game would be those two sixes against rapid pace in that situation. Unbelievable. Those will stay in my mind for a long time,” he said.
