Inside story of Virat Kohli’s captaincy: ‘Sometimes I had to…’ – Ravi Shastri shares an anecdote | Cricket News

Former Indian cricket head coach Ravi Shastri has revealed insights into Virat Kohli’s leadership style and his transformation from an aggressive captain to a calmer player. Speaking on the LiSTNR Sport podcast, Shastri explained how Kohli would confront players with fitness issues and react intensely when wickets fell during his captaincy tenure, which helped India achieve milestones, including their maiden Test series victory in Australia.Kohli’s evolution from an aggressive 20-year-old player to a 36-year-old seasoned professional has been remarkable in Indian cricket. His attitude has changed from brash and confrontational to a more measured approach on the field.Under Kohli’s leadership, India implemented the Yo-Yo test as a fitness benchmark for team selection. This marked a new era in Indian cricket where fitness became a crucial criterion for players to secure their place in the national team.The partnership between Kohli and Shastri has led India to unprecedented achievements. During his tenure, India achieved their first ever Test series victory in Australia and maintained the ICC Test mass for five consecutive years.Shastri shared specific examples of Kohli’s demanding approach towards players’ on-field fitness. “He would show them differently. Because if you’re running between the wicket and you’re a lazy bugger, you’ll soon find out. If you’re looking for a second run and you’re panting, and if he’s looking for a third and you haven’t finished the second yet, the message would immediately be ‘go to the damn gym and start working out and get fitter.’“The former coach also recalled the times when he had to moderate Kohli’s intense reactions to the dismissals. “Sometimes I had to calm him down. If a wicket fell, he would jump out of his seat. I would say, ‘Calm down.’ Let him cross at least halfway. Don’t meet him when he’s only 10 yards from the stumps, you know. Approach the boundary line, then cross it. He was like a cat on a hot tin roof, ready to come out and kick it. That’s Virat for you.”Kohli’s captaincy period, although it did not result in ICC trophies, laid the foundation for India’s recent successes. The team’s accomplishments over the past nine months can be attributed to the standards and systems established under his leadership.The transformation in Kohli’s approach is particularly evident when comparing his current attitude to footage from the 2017 Border-Gavaskar Trophy and subsequent Australian tours. These videos showcase his earlier, more aggressive leadership style.As captain, Kohli maintained high standards not only towards the opposition but also towards his own team members. His strict approach to fitness and performance became a defining characteristic of his leadership era in Indian cricket.The implementation of fitness standards and the resulting transformation in Indian cricket’s approach to fitness remains one of the lasting impacts of the Kohli-Shastri partnership. This shift in focus has continued to influence team selection and performance standards in Indian cricket.