'I was looking down, I shivered': Virat Kohli hails Ravi Shastri’s role in taking India to No.1 in Tests

Ravi Shastri, Virat Kohli (Pic: File Pic)

Team India's golden run in Test cricket under Virat Kohli's captaincy continues to draw admiration even today, with the former skipper recently acknowledging the instrumental role played by Ravi Shastri.

Speaking at Yuvraj Singh's YouWeCan Gala event in London, Kohli lauded Shastri's impact on his personal journey and the team's rise to the top of the Test rankings. "If I wasn't working with him, what happened for us in Test cricket would not have been possible," said the 36-year-old.

During Kohli's tenure as captain, India climbed to the summit of the ICC Test rankings, widely regarded as one of the nation's finest phases in the longest format. Shastri, appointed head coach during this period, was pivotal in shaping the team's aggressive, fearless approach.

The 36-year-old also revisited a crucial chapter from 2014, when he endured a torrid series in England. "It was here at the 2014 in England, I had a horrible Test series. He comes in, repair job, he had done that before he did cricket. And I, again, met him in, post-match presentations, didn't know much about him. And then we sit in the room, and our heads are down, we're all low," said Kohli.

Kohli shared how Shastri's commanding presence helped lift spirits. Admitting that he 'feared' Shastri's voice, the former India captain said that the 63-year-old's tough talk and belief in the team laid the foundation for what he described as the best-ever Test side in India's history.

"And his voice comes in, BOYS! And I clearly remember I was looking down, I shivered, I was like, what just happened? Like, you know, he just caught our attention. And from that day onwards, I thought, he's so clear in what he wants the team to do. And honestly, if I wasn't working with him, what happened for us in Test cricket would not have been possible. Because that clarity that we had together was something that is very rare to find. And that environment in the change room, as we all know, it's everything for cricketers to grow into their own careers and evolve," he added.

Following Shastri's tenure, Rahul Dravid took over as head coach before Gautam Gambhir was recently appointed to lead India across formats. Under Gambhir's stewardship, a new era has begun, with Shubman Gill captaining the side in the ongoing five-match Test series against England.

The contest is currently level at 1-1, with the third Test set to commence at Lord's from July 10 to 14. India will look to reclaim the edge at the historic venue and build on the robust legacy crafted during the Kohli-Shastri years.