Former Indian coach Ravi Shastri took an indirect dig at Virat Kohli after witnessing Shreyas Iyer's selfless knock of 97* against the Gujarat Titans in the recent match.
PBKS Captain made an impressive start to his innings by scoring a match-winning 97*. PBKS captain Iyer was at the crease with Shashank Singh, and as Shreyas reached 97 runs in the 19th over, he had a chance to complete his century with six balls remaining. However, his selfless act allowed Shashank to take those six balls and score 23 runs off Mohammed Siraj.
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Following this inning, Ravi Shastri was in the commentary box and asked Shashank Singh a few questions. He began by inquiring why Shreyas didn't reach his century. Shashank was quick to respond, as he anticipated the question. He said,
“Let me be very honest, Shreyas from ball one told me, ‘Shashank, don’t think of my hundred. Just play your shots and finish it well.’ So, kudos to him for how he spoke to me before the over.”
Ravi Shastri replied, “That’s the right thing to say in a team game.” This comment reflected the importance of teamwork and seemed to indirectly critique Virat Kohli, who is known for pursuing personal milestones in some matches.
During the game between RCB and KKR, Kohli was nearing his century while Marcus Stoinis played similar innings to Shashank Singh that day, aiming to boost the score in the final over. However, when Stoinis found a gap for a simple two, Kohli stopped him, prioritizing his century. Ultimately, Kohli did reach his hundred in that match.
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The innings by Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer differ in perspective. Cricket is indeed a team sport, but players also seek personal milestones that contribute to the team's success. Being selfless is more than just a word, as winning remains the ultimate goal. Ravi Shastri's statement holds merit in this context. Regardless, both Kohli and Iyer secured victories for their respective teams: Kohli for RCB and Shreyas for PBKS.
