'Could be blessing in disguise' - Ravi Shastri on Virat Kohli stepping down as RCB captain

Virat Kohli is one of the players to watch out for in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 with the captaincy pressure laid off from his back. The 33-year-old stepped down as Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) skipper following the conclusion of the last season and now, Faf du Plessis has taken over the reins of the side. Kohli, however, will continue to serve the franchise as a batter and it will be interesting to see how he performs.

Speaking on the matter, former Team India head coach Ravi Shastri said giving up captaincy might be a blessing in disguise for the batting star. He also highlighted that Kohli now has the liberty to express himself and play freely. Notably, Shastri has worked closely with Kohli during his tenure as India’s head coach. Hence, he’s well versed with the mindset and temperament of the veteran batter.

Virat Kohli can go out and express himself: Ravi Shastri

“I think [giving up captaincy] could be a blessing in disguise, to be honest. The pressures of captaincy off his shoulders, the expectations that come with being captain no longer there. He can go out, express himself, play freely, and I think he’ll look to do just that,” Shastri told ESPNcricinfo.

“I think the most important thing is not worry about his own performances, because he’s done enough in world cricket for people to know where he stands. It’s about him wanting to enjoy himself out there. I think that is the key. It’s mind over matter, it’s a case of telling yourself, ‘I want to go there, express myself, and enjoy myself’, “he added.

For the unversed, Kohli had been RCB’s full-time skipper since the 2013 season and he mustered a plethora of runs in this period. He even took the side to the finals in the 2016 season. However, the IPL trophy remains elusive for RCB and the side would be determined to end its drought this season. Meanwhile, RCB will kick-start their campaign against Mayank Agarwal’s Punjab Kings on March 27.