MS Dhoni was my captain but my eye was on Virat Kohli: Ravi Shastri

Ravi Shastri, who assumed the role of national team director in 2014 and later became the head coach, reflected on his tenure, emphasising the shift in focus from individual brilliance to team brilliance. Identifying Virat Kohli as an "uncut diamond," Shastri said he saw the potential for the Indian captaincy early on. "There was a lot of individual brilliance but I wanted to see team brilliance. I wanted to win and to make Test cricket paramount and identified an uncut diamond in Virat Kohli," he said.

"While (MS) Dhoni was my captain, my eye was on him (Kohli). I told him very early in my second month: 'It'll take time but watch, observe, be ready (for the captaincy)'.

Shastri appreciated Kohli's passion for Test cricket, his readiness for challenges, and the willingness to play tough cricket.