‘Everything true, but on the field’ - Ravi Shastri opens up on the biggest misconception about Virat Kohli

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has shared his thoughts on one of the biggest misconceptions surrounding star batter Virat Kohli, highlighting the stark contrast between the former captain’s on-field persona and his behavior away from the game.

Shastri and Kohli enjoyed a highly successful partnership during their time with the Indian team, helping India achieve several memorable victories across formats. Under Kohli’s captaincy and Shastri’s guidance as a coach, the Men in Blue established themselves as a dominant force in world cricket, especially in Test cricket. Shastri addressed the perception many people have about Kohli’s aggressive nature.

According to the former India all-rounder, the traits often associated with Kohli are visible only when he steps onto the cricket field.

“Arrogant. Spoiled brat. Over the top. On edge. Everything true, but on the field. Totally the opposite off it. I love people who have the ability to switch on like that and then switch off,” he said in a video posted on the One8 YouTube channel.

Shastri explained that Kohli’s fierce and intense approach during matches is a crucial part of what makes him such a successful competitor. However, he emphasised that the batting stalwart is a completely different individual away from the pressures of international cricket.

As a coach, Ravi Shastri remains one of India’s greatest. He coached India in 43 Test matches, managing to win 13 losses and five draws, including the famous Border Gavaskar Trophy wins in Australia in 2018-19, and in 2020-21. Under his coaching, the Indian team also played the World Test Championship (WTC) against New Zealand in 2021.

Kohli, on the other hand, had a tremendous IPL 2026 for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). The right-hander smashed 675 runs at a strike rate of 165.85, helping the Bengaluru-based franchise retain the trophy. He was ruled out of the three-match Afghanistan ODI series due to the hamstring injury he sustained during the IPL final.