“Calm down man” - Ravi Shastri reveals ahead of AUS vs IND 2025 ODIs what Virat Kohli did before going out to bat

India Nets Session - Source: Getty
Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri formed an incredible captain-coach combination in the second half of the 2010s [Credit: Getty]

Former Team India head coach Ravi Shastri revealed he had to occasionally calm Virat Kohli down before he went out to bat. The duo shone brightly as captain and coach in the second half of the 2010s, helping India win their first-ever Test series in Australia in 2018/19.

Ad

Kohli emerged as the best batter in the world across formats with Shastri as head coach, while also captaining India to becoming the No.1 Test side in the world.

Talking about Kohli's demeanor before going out to bat in an interview on the LiSTNR Sport podcast, Shastri said (9:30):

"At times I had to calm him ( Kohli) down. If a wicket went, he would jump out of his seat. I would say, 'Calm down man, let him (dismissed batter) cross halfway, don't meet him when he's just 10 yards away from the stumps. Let him come near the boundary line, then cross him'. He was like a cat on a hot tin roof ready to punch out there. That's Virat for you."
Ad

When asked if Virat Kohli's incredible commitment to fitness had set the benchmark for the younger players, Shastri responded:

"It did because he would show them up otherwise. When you are running between the wickets, if you are a lazy bugger, you'll soon find out. He'll be completing two runs and you'll be trying to finish the second and he'll be looking for the third while you've not even finished your second run. Immediately the message then is, ' Get to that bloody gym and start training and get fitter'."
Ad

Virat Kohli recently retired from Test cricket after walking away from T20Is after the World Cup last year. However, the veteran batter continues to play ODIs and will be back in action when India take on Australia in the three-match ODI series, starting October 14.

"I've never seen anyone like that" - Ravi Shastri hails Virat Kohli's work ethic

Ad

Ravi Shastri hailed Virat Kohli for his unmatched work ethic before and after games, citing an example from India's 2018 Test series in South Africa. The former head coach recalled the champion batter requesting quick throwdowns on a dodgy pitch before the Centurion Test, having failed in the series opener at Cape Town.

"It was unreal, his work ethics were special. I've never seen anyone like that. Forget the gym, I remember him getting out early in Capetown ( 2018 Test series in South Africa). And he came at the nets at the Centurion and he batted for 45 minutes, then went back in and asked Raghu, a slinger who can crank it up at 150-160 from 16 yards to bowl. And he went after Virat because Virat wanted that," said Shastri (via the aforementioned source).
Ad

He continued:

"And it was a dodgy pitch so I was a little worried as a coach. The pitch was dodgy and this guy (Kohli) is asking him (Raghu) to go flat out and you've got a Test match starting in two days. But he was relentless and then at the ground, day after day there is a routine. So the energy he would bring to the table day in and day out was unreal."

Virat Kohli is among the most-accomplished batters in cricket history with 27,599 international runs, including 82 centuries, in 550 outings.

Follow IPL Auction 2025 Live Updates, News & Biddings at Sportskeeda. Get the fastest updates on Mega-Auction and cricket news

Quick Links

Edited by Venkatesh Ravichandran
Sportskeeda logo
Close menu
WWE
WWE
NBA
NBA
NFL
NFL
MMA
MMA
Tennis
Tennis
NHL
NHL
Golf
Golf
MLB
MLB
Soccer
Soccer
F1
F1
WNBA
WNBA
down arrow icon
More
bell-icon Manage notifications