Virat Kohli Speaks On Ravi Shastri's Appointment As Head Coach

India skipper Virat Kohli has said he is expecting a smooth ride with newly-appointed head coach Ravi Shastri.

Shastri was appointed the head coach after his predecessor Anil Kumble‘s highly successful spell came to a bitter end. Under Kumble, Team India won 10 of the 13 Tests at home in addition to winning the Test series in the Caribbeans. The Men in Blue also registered limited-overs series win against New Zealand and England and made it to the final of the Champions Trophy. However, the highly successful partnership came to a disappointing end when Kumble stepped down from his post, citing Kohli’s reservations over his style.

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Consequently, BCCI had to search for a new coach and the Cricket Advisory Committee selected Shastri as Kumble’s replacement earlier this month. And given Shastri’s equation with Kohli as well as the team when he was the team director from 2014 to 2016, the India captain is expecting a good time with the former India allrounder.

“We have worked together in the last three years. I don’t think I need to understand anything else. We have worked before, we know what’s expected and what’s on the plate. I don’t think it will require any effort,” Kohli said before the team’s departure for Sri Lanka.

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Kohli also dismissed suggestions that he was under pressure after the way things turned in the past one month or so.

“I don’t think there is any added pressure. As a team we aspire to achieve. Everyone has faced hard times. I don’t take any added pressure. I continue to take responsibility till the time I am captain. You just need to take care of your mindset,” he said.

Kohli had previously declined to reveal his side of the story which forced Kumble to resign and so the star batsman was not asked about the matter.

However, on a query regarding communication between players and the support staff, Kohli said: “Understanding and communication apply on everything. It applies to any relationship and not just cricket. Everyone has gone through relationships somewhere in life, same rules apply.”

Team India will play three Tests, five One-Day International and one T20 Internationals in Sri Lanka.

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