Virat Kohli Recalls Crucial Advice From Ravi Shastri After 2014 England Debacle

Virat Kohli rose to fame since his terrific performance in the U-19 World Cup. He, however, faced a setback in the 2014 tour to England. Virat Kohli admitted that it was the worst phase of his career and felt like it was the end of the world. He, however, assembled himself as his legend continues to grow.

After 2014, there has been no looking back for Kohli as he has grown into the game consistently. He performed well in Australia, however, his run in New Zealand in the tour earlier this year was questionable. Kohli, in an interview to BCCI, recalled his 2014 debacle where he scored 134 runs in 10 innings.

Kohli said that following the tour he met Sachin Tendulkar and then Team director Ravi Shastri called him to his room and gave him some tips. “Well, it was after the England tour in 2014. He (Shastri) called me and Shikhar to his room. He called for a bat as well,” Virat Kohli told Mayank Agarwal for a BCCI interview.

“He has such a keen understanding of the game. Little things that you do can make a huge difference, he knows that. Because from a lower-order player to opening the batting for India and averaging 40-plus and scoring hundreds almost everywhere in the world, you have to have a good understanding of the game. His understanding was very sharp.

“He told me something, which I started practicing which is standing outside the crease. He explained the mindset behind it: ‘You should be in control of the space you’re playing and not give the bowlers to get you out. So many dismissals get taken out when you’re standing outside the crease.’ I started doing that in Australia and the results were unbelievable,” he added.