India’s Virat Kohli plays a shot during the ICC Champions Trophy semifinal cricket match between India and Australia at Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Christopher Pike)
Former India coach Ravi Shastri hailed Virat Kohli’s energy ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy final against New Zealand, saying that the Indian batsman had the kind of energy that was comparable to some of the top sportspeople in the world.
Kohli has 217 runs in this ICC Champions Trophy but Shastri said that it was also his energy on the ground while fielding and his demeanour that was very sport friendly.
“You know people (like to) watch sport when they watch a sportsman with energy,” Shastri said to the ICC Review. “Whether his name is (Cristiano) Ronaldo or it’s (Lionel) Messi or whether it’s a (Novak) Djokovic or whether it’s (Rafael) Nadal, that energy that they bring in – there’s a certain kind of charisma and it rubs off on other people. They want to watch this guy play.”
Shastri also spoke about what set Kohli apart in ODIs and how a return to what made him successful pushed aside the slump he had faced for a few years.
“I thought he tried to get ahead of himself in the last three or four years, where he was trying to outdo what he’s good at and sometimes, it can catch up on you. But he’s back to what he does best, which is take the singles, hit the ball along the ground, if necessary, go for the big one. Some of the greatest players who played the one-day game, especially in the chase, are guys who can do that,” said Shastri.
He then added, “When you pick up singles with ease, there’s no pressure. And then when you have another guy at the other end, someone like Shreyas (Iyer) who comes and smacks it, it takes the pressure off, it becomes easier.”
