Ravi Shastri’s tenure as the head coach of Team India from 2017 to 2021 was marked by historic overseas victories, dominant performances in all formats, and the rise of several world-class players. Under his guidance, India achieved the No. 1 Test ranking, defeated Australia twice in their own backyard, and groomed multiple talents who went on to become match-winners. But when asked to pick the best player he coached during his time at the helm, the former all-rounder had a clear and emphatic answer.

Ravi Shastri on the best player he has coached for India

In a conversation on Sky Sports’ YouTube channel, Shastri named Virat Kohli as the finest player he had the privilege to coach. He praised the former India captain for his unmatched consistency, competitive spirit, and ability to dominate across conditions and formats.

“I would say Kohli, the batsman in his pomp, was unbelievable because in those five years when India were No. 1 in the red-ball format. Some of the innings he played in Australia, South Africa, England, across formats was unreal,” said Shastri.

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Shastri on how the star player carried forward MS Dhoni’s legacy

Shastri revealed that after MS Dhoni stepped down from captaincy, he saw Kohli as the natural leader to take Indian cricket forward. He commended Kohli’s fierce will to win while maintaining fairness on the field. He credited Kohli for embracing the challenge of leadership and taking the team to new heights, ensuring the transition from Dhoni’s era was both smooth and successful.

“Once I took over the job, and once Dhoni had finished, he did a magnificent job. I think his first skills as a batsman, his ability to dominate, be in the face, play hard but play fair, and wanting to win and take the game forward,” Shastri reflected.

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