Ravi Shastri confirmed reports that Virat Kohli spoke to him before announcing his retirement from Test cricket earlier this year. The Indian cricket legend bid adieu to the longest format of the game after a stunning career that lasted over 14 years.

Shastri revealed that Kohli's decision was already made before he spoke to him. The former Indian cricket team head coach reassured that after talking to the ex-Indian captain, he was convinced that it was the right time for him to leave the longest format.

“I did speak to him about it, I think a week before that [his announcement] and his mind was very clear that he’d given us everything. There were no regrets. There were one or two questions I asked, and that’s a personal conversation which,ou know, he mentioned very clearly, there were no doubts in his mind, which made me think, ‘Yes, the time is right’. The mind has told his body that it’s time to go," said Shastri in a chat with Sanjana Ganeshan on ICC Review.

Shastri reserved high praise for Kohli and stated that he gave everything he had and would have no regrets in the future over his career.

“If he decided to do something, then he gave his 100%, which is not easy to match,” Shastri said. “Individually, as a bowler, as a batsman. A player does his job, [and] then you sit back. But [with Kohli] when the team goes out, it’s as if he has to take all the wickets, he has to take all the catches, he has to make all the decisions on the field.

"That much involvement, I would think there’s going to be a burnout somewhere if he doesn’t take a rest, if he doesn’t compartmentalise how much he wants to play across formats, there is bound to be a burnout," stated Shastri.

Shastri claimed he was surprised by Kohli's decision as he felt he could have played the sport for 2-3 more years. However, the cricketer-turned-commentator admitted that Kohli had reached the stage of a mental burnout.

“Virat surprised me because I thought he had at least two-three years of Test match cricket left in him. But then, when you’re mentally fried and overcooked, that’s what tells your body. You might be physically the fittest guy in the business. You might be fitter than half the guys in your team, but mentally you’re well done, as they say, then it sends a message to the body. You know, that’s it," said Shastri.

The duo share a close bond as Kohli was the captain of the Indian team during Shastri's tenure as head coach.

Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from IPL 2025,IPL Orange Cap, IPL Purple Cap, Most Sixes in IPL, Cricket, Sports and around the world - updated