Kohli and Shastri Say Disagreements Never Undermined India’s Success
Their One8 conversation highlights how private feedback and public backing shaped team leadership as Kohli’s hamstring injury from the IPL final rules him out of the Afghanistan ODI series.
Overview
- Virat Kohli and former coach Ravi Shastri told One8 on Monday, June 15, 2026, that they sometimes disagreed on tactics but always shared the same goal of winning for India.
- Shastri said common labels for Kohli—“arrogant” or “over the top”—apply only on the field and compared Kohli’s on-field intensity to Vivian Richards.
- Kohli praised Shastri’s approach of backing players publicly and offering private, one-on-one feedback, saying that fostered confidence across different player generations.
- Kohli finished a standout IPL 2026 with 675 runs at a 165.85 strike rate and helped Royal Challengers Bengaluru retain the title, but he suffered a hamstring injury in the final that rules him out of the three-match ODI series against Afghanistan.
- The pair’s remarks recall a period of sustained overseas Test success under their partnership, including the 2018–19 Australia series and the Gabba win, and leave selectors monitoring Kohli’s fitness for upcoming India fixtures.