Virat Kohli, Smith have slipped down: Shastri hopes 'hungry' duo will bounce back

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri believes that Virat Kohli and Steve Smith, currently behind Joe Root and Kane Williamson in the Fab Four rankings, will be hungry and determined to bounce back in the remaining two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. While both Kohli and Smith have scored a century each in the ongoing series, they have struggled to maintain consistency across the three matches.

The Indian maestro showcased his brilliance with a century in the second innings at Perth but faltered in the subsequent three innings, repeatedly falling to the same error—chasing deliveries outside the off-stump and getting caught behind. Shastri noted that while Williamson and Root have enjoyed a stellar run in 2024, with six and four Test centuries respectively, Kohli and Smith have managed just one each, both in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Shastri believes this inconsistency, coupled with competition from emerging players like Harry Brook, has momentarily pushed Kohli and Smith down the Fab Four hierarchy. Acknowledging the struggles, Shastri emphasised the hunger and resilience that make players like Kohli and Smith so dangerous. He pointed out that these champions thrive under pressure and often bounce back stronger when their form is questioned.

“I think they (Kohli and Smith) will have slipped down the ranks on current form because you know you’ve got the likes of Root taking off, there’s Williamson doing well, Harry Brook has come onto the scene, you know there are a lot of other young players pushing but these are class players. In a situation like this, you know they’ll be dangerous because they’ll be hungry,” Shastri said, stressing the mental strength required to succeed in Test cricket.

Using Smith as an example, Shastri lauded his patience and discipline in grinding out runs despite challenging conditions. Smith’s willingness to wait for opportunities has helped him maintain his status as one of the best.

“What’s needed you saw from Smith. It might have been a struggle early on but he was prepared to play the waiting game and be disciplined,” Shastri noted.

For Kohli, Shastri highlighted the importance of applying discipline early in his innings. The Indian superstar has struggled against deliveries outside the off-stump, often falling to the same mistake of edging behind. However, Shastri remains confident that Kohli is not out of form and can turn things around with focused effort.

“I think the same with Virat,” Shastri added. “If Virat gets over that first 30, 40 minutes, with serious application and discipline, I don’t think he’s (out of form), none of these guys are out of form.”

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