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Ravi Shastri a 'yes man'? Virat Kohli says that's the 'most bizarre thing he has ever heard'

Kohli feels that not only him, other players have also learnt immensely from Shastri.

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There has been a general perception in the public that ever since India’s head coach Ravi Shastri has taken over from Anil Kumble in 2017 middle, he has been a ‘yes man’ to the captain Virat Kohli, that he only says ‘come on boys’, ‘well played’ and doesn’t give catches at practice sessions like other coaches usually do.

Clarifying what Shastri brings to the table, Kohli explained on Thursday that it was his man-management skills that made a huge difference to the players including himself. Kohli said on Shastri: “The contribution he has brought to the table ever since we have started building this team is making people believe that they belong to this level. I can vouch for it because at a time when we all went through a really difficult time in England in 2014 for me, and for a lot of other players, Shikhar Dhawan in 2015 as well, to be able to come out of that shell, to bring the best out of the players, he is the most important factor.

“Man management is the most important thing at the level that we play at. A lot of people think that we don’t understand what needs to be done and someone needs to literally tell you from where the bat has to come and where the head has to be. I think we have learnt those things enough. It’s about man management that Ravibhai has done brilliantly in the time he has been with the team.”

 

On the perception that Shastri is Kohli’s ‘yes’ man, the captain said: “About saying yes all the time, that is the most bizarre thing that I have heard. I don’t think anyone has said no to me more than him in Indian cricket. Because, he is one guy I can speak to and gives an honest opinion and he will tell me if it doesn’t need to be done, doesn’t need to be done.

"I have made more changes to my game listening to him than anyone in the past. These are very personal thing that happens in the team environment. Things that conveniently need to be put out there are put out. We are not going to take a banner and say ‘this is what happens in the Indian team’. As long as our heart is clear and our intent is right, we just want to keep moving forward.”

 

Kohli stressed that playing for the BCCI crest is what mattered most for the team. “Everyone has an opinion on things. They are absolutely free to voice their opinion but we can’t stop living life, we cannot stop doing things that we feel are organic, nothing is made up here, nothing is created, nothing is happening in a fake way. Everyone has a different personality, if someone’s personality doesn’t fall into someone else comfort zone, then that becomes difficult.

"We are not out there wanting to judge anyone. The only criteria for all of us is this badge (pointing to the BCCI logo on his T-shirt). That is what we are working towards because he finishes one day, I finish playing one day but Indian cricket stays here and we are contributing towards that. No one is here to dominate something or gain something, only motive is to take Indian cricket forward. And if someone can say otherwise about the progress of the team, that is very personal point of view. We all feel we are moving in the right direction as a team.”

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