Ravi Shastri recalls shocking statistics regarding fab five

Former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri has watched Virat Kohli for a long time from close quarters, and he recently revealed a shocking stat that he had come across during the fifth rescheduled Test against England. Kohli has by far been the best batter across formats in the last decade, but his century drought in the almost last three years has raised concerns over his supremacy around the world.

Kane Williamson, David Warner, Babar Azam, Virat Kohli, and Joe Root are recognized as the fab five (fabulous five) for their brilliant record across formats in the last few years. While the other four batters on the list are still consistent enough, the same could not be said about Kohli in the last two years in international cricket. Speaking on that, Shastri felt various factors that need to be considered while making the fab five.

When you are the captain of a side, playing all three formats, it takes a toll: Ravi Shastri

Shastri mentioned that he was shocked with the stat about Kohli having played thrice the number of games that the other fab five players of the current era have played. He noted that the form is bound to take a toll due to captaincy in all three formats and felt that a break is necessary for him to regroup himself.

“Sometimes, it is important that when we talk about this rest and all that. Later on, you realize that when you are back in the media, you are doing all television, and people come out with stars. One stat that emerged during a Test match against England, which shocked me, really. It said that in the last three years, when you look at the top players in the world, that is [Kane] Williamson, David Warner, Babar Azam, Virat Kohli, and Joe Root, Virat had played three times the number of games as everyone else across all cricket,” Shastri said in a press conference organized by Star Sports.

“So it shocked me where he was at about 950 games, and that next was at 400. They had played less than half. When you are the captain of a side, playing all three formats, it takes a toll. And it would have sucked whatever out of him. And that’s why the break might just help him come around and do wonders.”

Shastri also hinted that the performances would get Virat Kohli back the mental strength and heaped praises on him for maintaining his fitness and physical strength.

“People keep saying, it’s often used that one or two innings can make a difference. But with a player like this, it can make a massive difference because he has got the fitness, he has got the physical strength. Performance will get the mental strength back, and the hunger and passion remain undiminished. Let me assure you that,” he added.