Virat Kohli allowed to be more aggressive: Ravi Shastri

It is certainly no secret that Virat Kohli is one of the most aggressive players in world cricket. In a few instances, a player would either receive a warning from either his management or coaches. However, in the case of Virat Kohli, Indian team director Ravi Shastri has given him the green signal to flaunt his aggressive persona.

Following Kohli’s controversial on-field spat with Aussie skipper Steven Smith, Shastri has come out full of praise for the test skipper.

Speaking to the media, Shastri went on to enumerate,” It’s the only way to play them. Look them in the eye, and give it back. That was my philosophy as a player as well. I don’t see anything wrong with that.” Shastri also went on to endorse the form of Virat Kohli, going on to state that his aggressive nature is part of the reason why he’s performing well. “It works for Virat. His batting last year was magnificent, but he’s taken it to another level this year.”

“He plays aggressively, and the Australian crowds, by and large, seem to love that. As team director, I will not tell him to do anything different. If anything, he can up the ante.”

Another Indian legend in the form of Sunil Gavaskar too heaped loads of praise on Kohli, complementing his fighting spirit and amazing technique. He went on to state that, “He is at the moment from a different planet. He is making it look so simple. The beauty about his batting is the top hand, when needed to play shots on the on-side and the same delivery, same line, same length the bottom hand comes into play and he whips it to mid-wicket, so what does a bowler do. How does any bowler stop a man in such tremendous touch.”

Batting legend and former master blaster Viv Richards too heaped on Kohli, stating that, “I love watching Kohli bat. He looks to me like an individual after my own heart. I love his aggression, and serious passion that I used to have. He reminds me of myself.”