Virat Kohli might give up ODI and Test captaincy to focus on his batting, feels Ravi Shastri

Former India coach Ravi Shastri believes that Virat Kohli may relinquish captaincy from Test and ODI formats as well. Virat Kohli recently stepped down as T20I skipper to manage his workload. Shastri said if Virat Kohli feels that leading India in Tests is affecting his batting, he may give up the role. “In red-ball cricket, India have been number one for the last five years under his captaincy. Unless he wants to give it up or he is mentally fatigued where he says he wants to focus on my batting which can happen in the near future,” Shastri told India Today.

The former India coach further opined that Kohli keeping the Test captaincy and leaving ODI leadership is also a possibility. “It won't happen immediately, but it can happen. The same might happen with white-ball cricket, he might say he had enough, and he focuses on Test captaincy. It is his mind and body that will make that decision. He won’t be the first.

“A lot of successful players have given up captaincy to focus on their batting for their side."

Shastri though wants Kohli to continue leading India in Test cricket as he brings the longer format to life. “He is hungry for sure, fitter than anybody in the team. No doubt about that. When you are physically that fit, your longevity only increases. On the captaincy part of it, it will be his decision, but I see if anything he might say no to white-ball cricket but the red ball, he should carry on because he has been the best ambassador for the test cricket. That will make him carry on," said Shastri. Meanwhile, Kohli has been rested from the T20Is and the first Test against New Zealand. The 33-year-old will return to lead India in the second Test. Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma has been named the India skipper in T20Is.