Ravi Shastri, Virat Kohli and how 2 strong-minded people don't believe in timepass

Mumbai: Virat Kohli-led Team India will have a huge task at hand when they embark on a long tour to South Africa, starting with the first Test on January 5.

The team, under head coach Ravi Shastri, have enjoyed a good run of success, by recently clinching a record-equalling Test series win over Sri Lanka.

While former coach Anil Kumble recently said that he was hopeful of India doing well in the African nation, 55-year-old Ravi Shastri made it clear that he as well as Virat and team play to win matches, and not just pass time.

“Equation is great. We are similar personalities like you mentioned. There is an element of trust in our relationship. We are both strong-minded and both play to win at all costs. We play to win. We don’t go there to do timepass,” he was quoted saying to CNN News 18.

“This is not a team that is out there to fill up the numbers. We want to compete. We want to take the game forward. He is pretty similar in his mindset when it comes to that and he is in your face kind of character. With Virat Kohli what you see is what you get,” he further said.

He also believed that the team captain should have his own say.

“See at that end of the day the captain is the boss. He might ask me for my suggestions. It doesn’t mean he has to agree with my suggestion. Because what I am looking for is for him to have his own mind as well and take the decision.

"We are there in the support staff to give suggestion which might help so there is a dialogue. I might believe in a certain combination,” the former Mumbai cricketer continued.

Of late, the trio of Murali Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul have been rotated in Test matches. Shastri, meanwhile, stressed on the fact that all the three batsmen were important to the team.

“You look at experience, you look at variety so that’s what Shikhar brings in, a left hand, a right-hand combination so he is a must. He has got lots of runs. Vijay the most experienced and a very good record overseas and he brings solidity,” he said.

He also hoped that Rahul will get more opportunities.

"Young Rahul is immensely talented and he will get his opportunity at some stage. He might have to wait for a while but he will get his opportunity think he was the most improved player in the last 18 months. it’s just unfortunate that he didn’t convert those 60s into 150s but he will learn,” he further stated.

India’s upcoming tour of South Africa will consist of three Test matches, six ODIs and three T20 internationals.