Virat Kohli recently opened up about his working relationship with former India head coach Ravi Shastri. The former India captain revealed that while the two often had different views on certain matters, their disagreements never affected their shared goal of helping India win matches and remain at the top of world cricket.
Kohli and Shastri enjoyed one of the most successful partnerships in Indian cricket. India secured overseas victories, including a Test series win in Australia in 2018-19. The team also reached the final of the ICC World Test Championship and performed well in England before the final Test of the 2021 series was postponed.
The Goal Was Always India Winning - Virat Kohli on Ravi Shastri
Speaking on a podcast for his lifestyle brand One8, Virat Kohli opened up about his partnership with Ravi Shastri. The former captain said that although they sometimes had different opinions, they always shared the same goal of helping India succeed.
"That gave me complete confidence in him throughout our working relationship, and that's why we had such a great time working together. We had disagreements and different points of view, but never different intentions. The goal was always India winning and Indian cricket staying at the top."
India enjoyed a successful run in Test cricket under Shastri's coaching tenure. The team played 39 Tests, winning 22, losing 13, and drawing four. The Kohli-Shastri partnership also helped India achieve several memorable overseas results, including a historic Test series win in Australia.
His Methods Worked Many Times, and My Methods Worked Many Times - Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli said that he and Ravi Shastri always took responsibility when their plans did not work. The former India captain admitted that they sometimes had different views on tactics, but their willingness to listen to each other helped them build a successful partnership.
"His methods worked many times, and my methods worked many times. Sometimes we disagreed on certain things, but if something didn't work, we took accountability. Over time, we realized that different paths can lead to the same destination. We were always willing to give and take when needed, and the people working around us were wonderful as well."
He Was as Comfortable With MS Dhoni as He Was With... - Virat Kohli on Ravi Shastri
Virat Kohli praised Ravi Shastri for his ability to connect with players from different generations. The former India captain said that Shastri was always open to new ideas, communicated honestly with players, and created a positive environment within the team.
"He actually wanted me to get better. Over the course of us working together, the one thing that stood out was how open he was and how eager he was to evolve with different generations of players. He was as comfortable with MS Dhoni as he was with Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal.
For me, that was brilliant. He was also willing to take responsibility upfront. If the team was under pressure, he would say, 'I want to go to the press conference. I want to handle this, and I know what I need to say.'
The players had complete confidence in him because he made everyone feel comfortable. They knew he would be honest. He never made gestures or criticized players publicly during practice. Instead, he would speak to you one-on-one in the dressing room or in his room and tell you exactly what he expected from you. But in front of the media, he always backed his players fully."
Virat Kohli was last seen in action during the IPL 2026 final between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans. However, he was ruled out of the ongoing ODI series against Afghanistan after suffering a hamstring injury during the final.
