Former India coach Ravi Shastri is the man who is behind the recession in the form of Former Indian Captain Virat Kohli, believes former Pakistan wicketkeeper and batsman Rashid Latid. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Latif said that he did not know whether Shastri had the credentials to become the coach of Team India. He said that the decision to appoint him as the captain is now turning upside down. Kohli has been running out of form for some time now. He has not scored a single century since 2019. His last international century came in the home Test against Bangladesh in November 2019. Latif feels that Kohli’s bat is getting quieter year after year due to Shastri’s coaching.
The former Pakistan cricketer also said that it was wrong to sideline a player like Anil Kumble and bring in Ravi Shastri. It has happened because of him (Shastri). In 2019, you sidelined a player like Kumble and Ravi came. Shastri. Whether he had the recognition or not, I don’t know.”
“He was a broadcaster. There was no coaching business. Barring Virat Kohli, I am sure there must have been others who would have played a role in bringing in Shastri. But now it’s backfire, isn’t it? Had he not become the coach, he (Kohli) would not have been out,” Latif said on his channel ‘Caught Behind’.
Virat eyes 71st international century
The stage is set at Edgbaston for the fifth and final Test of the series against England. The match starts on July 1 and India are eyeing their first series win since 2007-08. All eyes will be on Kohli returning to England in white clothes. It will be fitting to see him come back in form and complete his long pending 71st international century. The Kohli vs James Anderson clash will also interest fans, a fight within a fight that has always been discussed since 2014 whenever India and England engage in a Test series.