Virat Kohli’s shock retirement from Test cricket continues to send ripples through the cricketing world, and former India head coach Ravi Shastri has now revealed details of his private conversation with the batter shortly before the announcement. Speaking to The ICC Review, Shastri confirmed that Kohli had reached out to him a week before he made the decision public. “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 his everything,” Shastri said. He also added that Kohli had no regrets about his retirement. “There were no regrets. There were one or two questions I asked, and that’s a personal conversation… 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.” Shastri and Kohli were part of one of India cricket’s most successful Test partnerships: one that redefined India’s approach overseas. But even he admitted he didn’t see the decision coming. “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," he added. Also READ: Shafali Verma returns to T20I squad as India announce squads for England tour ‘There’s going to be a burnout somewhere’: Shastri reflects on Kohli’s intensity Shastri also touched on the emotional and mental toll of Kohli’s playing style, pointing out that the former captain's all-in approach left little room for long-term sustainability. “If he decided to do something, then he gave his 100%, which is not easy to match. 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,” he said. Also READ: MS Dhoni Gets Court Nod to Grill TV Channels in ₹100 Crore Match-Fixing Case According to Shastri, such involvement came with a cost, particularly for someone in the spotlight as much as Kohli. “He’s got accolades around the globe… Whether it’s Australia, whether it’s South Africa, he just got people to watch the game. There was a love-hate relationship. They would get angry because he had the ability to get under the skin… His intensity was such that it was like a rash—it spread very quickly, not just within the dressing room, but within living rooms.