Ravi Shastri Praises Virat Kohli for Infectious Work Ethic Influencing Indian Cricket

Ravi Shastri praised Virat Kohli's commitment and discipline, expressing his hope that the star will continue playing for Team India for many years.

Ravi Shastri Praises Virat Kohli for Infectious Work Ethic Influencing Indian Cricket

Ravi Shastri talked about Virat Kohli's fitness, ahead of the Australia series. (via NDTV Sports)

Ex-India head coach and one of Virat Kohli’s biggest admirers, Ravi Shastri talked about the 36-year-old’s work rate, which in fact has transformed the team’s fitness culture. Shastri praised Kohli’s work ethic as well, labeling him as an inspiration for aspiring cricketers in the country. 

Virat Kohli has been in the headlines, ahead of the white-ball series between India and Australia, starting tomorrow. The veteran Indian batting icon has made his way onto the pitch in Team India colors after seven months, having last played for the Men in Blue in the 2025 Champions Trophy final against New Zealand. Since then, he has remained out of action, only participating in the 2025 IPL season for RCB.

Having retired from Tests and T20Is now, Kohli’s future with the Indian ODI team remains uncertain, given the team management’s reliance on new and younger players. Despite rumors that the Australia tour might be his last international outing, the 36-year-old icon has looked in good shape. It can be attributed to Kohli’s impeccable fitness, which makes him one of the most agile players in world cricket. 

Earlier this week, RCB mentor Dinesh Karthik had revealed that Kohli even practiced while on break from international cricket. Sharing a similar sentiment, former India head coach Ravi Shastri, who was at the helm when Kohli captained the Indian team, lauded his exceptional fitness, while also describing his work ethic as ‘special’. Shastri shared his thoughts on the Willow Talk cricket podcast, speaking to Brad Haddin and Adam Peacock. 

It was unreal, his [Virat Kohli] work ethics were special. I’ve never seen anyone like that. Forget the gym, whether he was out for zero, I remember him getting out early in Cape Town and he came to the nets and batted for 45 minutes.

The 63-year-old former cricketer stated that Kohli’s leadership improved the Indian team’s emphasis on setting fitness standards, also recalling that the 36-year-old was the most dedicated player. Shastri noted that with Kohli as the captain of the side, all other players hoped to emulate him, and shared details of the player’s intense gym activity. Shastri also stated that Kohli would keep training for hours, recalling instances from the 2018 red-ball tour to South Africa. 

At the ground, day after day, there’s a routine. He [Kohli] will do his warmups, his stretching, take 50 catches in the slip cordon, then go into the outfield for ground fielding, then take a knock and then go in.

Kohli will be aiming to be fit and in form to participate in the 2027 ODI World Cup. Meanwhile, ahead of the series opener in Perth, Kohli is just one hundred away from becoming the foreign player with the most centuries in Australia in the 50-over format.

Virat Kohli primed to rewrite records in ODI series against Australia, starting tomorrow

Former Indian captain Virat Kohli is on the cusp of breaking several records in the upcoming three-match ODI series against Australia, away from home. Making his return to the format after a long break, Kohli is fully fit and is expected to feature in the series opener tomorrow. 

Virat Kohli vs. Australia
Virat Kohli could break several records in the three ODIs against Australia. (via India Today)

Kohli could surpass Sri Lankan legend Kumar Sangakkara to become the all-time second highest run-getter in ODI cricket history. The Indian superstar is currently placed third with 14,181 runs in 302 matches at an average of 57.88, only 53 runs behind Sangakkara’s record of 14,234 runs. Kohli could also reach close to becoming the fastest player in history to hit the 15,000 run-mark in ODI cricket.  

Kohli is tied with Sachin Tendulkar for the most centuries scored by any player against Australia in ODIs, with nine each. With a hundred in any one of the three matches, he could complete his 10th century to hold the outright record for the most ODI hundreds against Australia. Kohli is another 627 runs away from breaking Tendulkar’s record for the most runs for India against Australia in ODI cricket history.

Not just Virat Kohli, but his teammate Rohit Sharma is also eyeing a unique record in ODI cricket in his 500th international appearance. Sharma needs just eight sixes to surpass Shahid Afridi’s record of 351 sixes in the 50-over format, as the Indian opener currently stands with 344 career sixes.

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