Virat could have continued as Test captain for 2 more years: Shastri

World Cup-winning all-rounder and former India head coach Ravi Shastri said he feels Virat Kohli could have continued as Test captain for a couple more years but added that not many would have been able to digest the fact that he could end up with 50-60 wins as captain in the longest format of the game.

Speaking to a news channel, Ravi Shastri, who is currently in Oman as the Commissioner of Legends League Cricket, said the cricket community should respect Virat Kohli’s decision to step down as Test captain.

Kohli, who is India’s most successful Test captain with 40 victories in 60 matches, made an unforeseen announcement earlier this month as he brought an end to his 7-year-long tenure as India’s Test captain. He stepped down a day after India lost a 3-Test series 2-1 to South Africa.

Kohli’s decision helped raise quite a few eyebrows as he had said in September last year that he wanted to continue leading India in Tests and ODIs when he announced his decision to quit T20I captaincy. In a dramatic turn of events, Kohli was sacked as ODI captain and the star batter eventually stepped down from the leadership role in Tests. “Whether Virat could have continued to lead India in Tests. For sure, he could have led India for at least 2 years because next two years India would be playing at home and who is coming over - 9 and 10 jacks, going by the rankings.’’