Virat Kohli’s peak is yet to come: Ravi Shastri

The Royal Challengers Bangalore captain has scored 919 runs, including four centuries in 15 matches in this edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), and could become the first cricketer to score 1000 runs in an IPL season with him scheduled to play one more match. But, former Team India director and IPL commentator Ravi Shastri believes that the four centuries scored by Kohli in the four Test match series against Australia ranks miles above his IPL heroics.

“Four centuries in four Tests in Australia. You can’t beat that. He has been brilliant in IPL. Four centuries and nearly 1000 runs in IPL is fantastic, but nothing can beat four Test hundreds Down Under,” Shastri told PTI.

The 27-year-old Delhite is arguably going through the best phase of his career after the Player of the Tournament award in the World T20 and the tremendous IPL season. Having watched Kohli’s game closely, Ravi Shastri added that the right-hander is yet to hit his peak and hoped to see him go from strength to strength in the years to come.

“An international batsman’s peak time is between 28 and 32 and he is just going up. He will achieve much more as the peak is yet to come,” added Shastri.

The former India captain also played down the suggestion to give Kohli the captaincy across all formats by saying that he still has time on his side.

“Eventually, he will captain India across all formats. he is only 27 now so he has plenty of time,” said Shastri.

Ravi Shastri’s 18-month tenure as the director of the Indian team ended after the World T20, and the 53-year-old said that those 18 months were the “most memorable phase of his life.”

“I have no doubt in my mind that these are the best 18 months that I have spent during my association with Indian cricket as a player and then as a Team Director. It has been the most memorable phase of my life if I just look back at what we achieved as a team during this phase. Credit to the boys for making it special,” Shastri told PTI when asked about his stint with the Indian team.

When asked about whether he will apply for the post of the Indian coach, Shastri played it down by a comical reply.

“I will only apply for accreditation of the IPL final,” Shastri quipped.  

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