The vibes between Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri are good, the chemistry strong and the results excellent but the durability of the bond between the captain and the coach is yet to be tested
WITH THE SUN beating down, and the air humid, it was a typical Sri Lankan summer day. On such a day, just ahead of the second Test, the Indian team was in the middle of a hectic practice session at the Sinhalese Sports Club ground. There was no let-up in the intensity as the players went through the drills despite winning the first Test by a massive margin of 304 runs.
Assistant batting coach Sanjay Bangar was in the middle of an intense throw down session with Shikhar Dhawan, who scored an imperious 190 in the first Test. A little distance away, in one of the nets, bowling coach Bharat Arun was working with Ishant Sharma and Mohammed Shami. In another part of the practice ground, fielding coach Ramakrishnan Sridhar was setting up drills for the players after they were done with their batting and bowling sessions.
Amidst all this hustle and bustle, head coach Ravi Shastri, sporting a blue Team India T-shirt and shorts, had his eyes on captain Virat Kohli. The batsman, instead of honing his trademark cover drive, was bowling right arm medium pace for a change to left-handed opener Abhinav Mukund. Undoubtedly, Shastri enjoys a comfortable equation with Kohli—something that any captain would relish.
This story is from the September 2017 edition of Sports Illustrated India.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the September 2017 edition of Sports Illustrated India.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Hockey World Cup- India Gears Up For Glory
Hosts India will have to play out of their skins to win their second Hockey Men’s World Cup title.
Best Fitness Games For Workout
If going to the gym and bulking up the body is your idea of getting in shape, it’s time you reconsider it. From bodyweight training to resistance and high-intensity workouts, here is how you can ace the fitness game without giving up on your workout targets for the year yet again.
Novak Djokovic Has Proved His Mettle Yet Again
Sport can be cruel and unforgiving, but it is also humbling. Over the years, many great athletes have succumbed to the various forces in playmost of which, if not all, are not under their controland while some could never reclaim their past glory, others showed why they really can never be counted out. Novak Djokovic is one of them
Do Virat Kohli's Captaincy Skills Call For A DRS?
No doubt Virat Kohli is the best batsman to have emerged from India in recent years. He is a lion among kittens, Atlas shouldering the weight of India's batting. But, as a captain overseas, he has a long way to go.
Lebron James
In 2016, Northeast Ohio’s Favourite Son Used His Incomparable Skills to Deliver a Title to a Suddenly Revitalised City, While Using His Voice to Have an Even Wider Impact.
Winter Workout: Hot Moves For Cold Days
With the advent of the chilly months, it can become tough to brave the cold and train when all you want to do is curl up under a warm blanket. Trainer Raoul Hirani and physiotherapist Tariq Wasim tell us how professional footballer keep going, without letting the cold play spoilsport.
A Steep Learning Curve
Making the transition from the junior level to the senior team has been quite challenging but a hugely rewarding experience.
Scorecard - Don't Blame It on Rio
Apathy towards the Olympics could cast golf in a negative light and jeo paradise its standing with the IOC for the 2024 Games and beyond.
Rahul Dravid: The Great Wall Of India
Rahul Dravid’s contribution to Indian cricket or, rather, the game, is not just confined to his record with the bat. A true philosopher, he continues to inspire as well as serve cricket on and off the field.
P.V. Sindhu, Sportsperson Of The Year
A Dream Run at the 2016 Olympics was followed by major successes on the International tour, making Sindhu the unanimous choice for the sportsperson of the Year award
