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Ravi Shastri reveals why Virat Kohli was rested from Asia Cup

Zee News Network
New Delhi, Delhi, IndiaUpdated: Oct 02, 2018, 12:43 PM IST
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File photo of Ravi Shastri (R) and Virat Kohli. Photograph:(Zee News Network)

Indian Cricket team head coach Ravi Shastri finally cleared the air why captain Virat Kohli was rested from the recently-concluded Asia Cup 2018.

Kohli, who was presented with the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award, missed the tournament which included two games against arch-rivals Pakistan. 

The right-handed batsman was not the only one who was criticised for his decision but coach Shastri was also at the receiving end. 

Speaking to a national daily days after India registered a three-wicket win over Bangladesh to become the Asian Champion for the seventh time, Shatri said, "Virat needed this rest. Physically he is a bull. You can't give him out of the ground. And the thing with Virat is if he plays, then you know the level of intensity he brings. So it was a case of just mental fatigue, giving him a break, take your mind off cricket and then come back fresh". 

The coach stressed that the same process will be followed for other players also. 

"And we will have to do it with a lot of other players. You know like Bumah (Jasprit Bumrah), Bhuvi (Bhuvneshwar Kumar), we have to sustain them and keep them energetic", he added.

Kohli will return to international action as skipper with the Test series against West Indies.

He will lead the 15-member Indian cricket team for the upcoming two-match Test series beginning on October 4 at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Rajkot. 

However, Asia Cup performers Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma have not been included in the squad. 

Prithvi Shaw and Mayank Agarwal have been inducted while pacers Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar have been rested.

Hanuma Vihari, who also impressed on debut in the final Test at The Oval, London, also found a place in India's 15-man squad.