'The monkey is off his back now' - Ravi Shastri opens up on Virat Kohli's maiden T20I hundred

Former India coach Ravi Shastri was very delighted to see Virat Kohli getting a century after a gap of almost three years. It was Kohli’s 71^st century and first ever in the T20I format. While speaking of his magnificent knock in India’s final game of the Asia Cup 2022 against Afghanistan, Shastri said that the monkey is finally off Kohli’s back.

Kohli had been going through a lean patch for quite some time, but the tables turned during the Asia Cup and the batting maestro found his mojo back. He finished as India’s leading run scorer with two half-centuries and a century under his name. The entire cricketing fraternity was happy seeing Kohli play in his usual form and get back into the game stronger than ever.

"You mentioned 1020 days, I can say 700 days I was in that dressing room when that happened. It's a long time. The monkey is off his back now. When you had astounding success like he has, when 70 hundreds come like this, then you go through a patch of one, two years, two-and-half years, two-and-three quarter years, and then everyday people start reminding - 'It's been that long'. He is human. It would have been eating him up. He would be getting up every morning, whether thinking of it or not, subconsciously being reminded," said Shastri while speaking to Star Sports.

It took a long time coming: Shastri

The former India coach added that Kohli will feel less stressed now that the pressure of reaching a century has finally been lifted. Shastri added that the final 40 runs of Kohli's knock against Afghanistan were when he revealed his true game and playing in his usual style, without any fear or pressure.

"Today, I think he will be five kilos less. Don't ask me where the weight has gone from, five kilos less at least from the head. You could see from the last 40 runs of his innings. It was Virat Kohli. His trade mark shots, the confidence, the poise, the utter disdain for bowling is back. It took a long time coming," Shastri added.