New Delhi
Ravi Shastri may no longer be the coach of Team India, but he took this responsibility when his commentary career was in full swing. Shastri, who played 80 Tests and 150 ODIs for India, was a key player of the 1983 world winning team. The veteran, who hit six sixes in six balls, also captained the Indian Test team in one match. In 2017, the Cricket Advisory Committee (CaC) comprising Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman made him the head coach of the Indian team. After the end of his contract, Ravi Shastri has made many important revelations in a conversation with our colleague Times of India.
‘I felt like I was making a mistake’‘
2007, 2014, 2017… In many ways, I thought, I am making a mistake by taking on this responsibility because I was not prepared to do so. Indian cricket was again in no good shape after consecutive overseas defeats between 2012 and 2014. I signed a new contract with Star in 2014, when BCCI sent me an invitation to join them. There was no talk of any money then, everything was verbal. N. Srinivasan was an excellent administrator, just like Sharad Pawar.
Who conspired against Ravi Shastri
Very sad the way I was dropped from the team. This method was not correct. There could have been better ways to remove me. She was in good shape when I left the team. In my second term, I came after a lot of controversies. It was a slap on the face of those who wanted to keep me out. Some people in BCCI did not want to see me and Bharat Arun as coach, whom they did not want to make bowling coach, he became the best bowling coach of India. He gives coaching to the coaches. I am not pointing fingers at any one person. I am not taking anyone’s name, but it is certain that some people were trying their best that I could not become a coach.
What did Shastri say on Kohli?
I hardly knew anyone in the team except MS Dhoni as I interviewed players on TV. Sachin-Sourav-Rahul-VVS-Anil had all retired. In such a situation, connecting with this team was no less than a challenge for me. I was looking for a player who can lead the team. I saw all those characters in Virat Kohli. Kohli looked ready to replace MS Dhoni both on and off the field.
Ravi Shastri may no longer be the coach of Team India, but he took this responsibility when his commentary career was in full swing. Shastri, who played 80 Tests and 150 ODIs for India, was a key player of the 1983 world winning team. The veteran, who hit six sixes in six balls, also captained the Indian Test team in one match. In 2017, the Cricket Advisory Committee (CaC) comprising Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman made him the head coach of the Indian team. After the end of his contract, Ravi Shastri has made many important revelations in a conversation with our colleague Times of India.
‘I felt like I was making a mistake’‘
2007, 2014, 2017… In many ways, I thought, I am making a mistake by taking on this responsibility because I was not prepared to do so. Indian cricket was again in no good shape after consecutive overseas defeats between 2012 and 2014. I signed a new contract with Star in 2014, when BCCI sent me an invitation to join them. There was no talk of any money then, everything was verbal. N. Srinivasan was an excellent administrator, just like Sharad Pawar.
Who conspired against Ravi Shastri
Very sad the way I was dropped from the team. This method was not correct. There could have been better ways to remove me. She was in good shape when I left the team. In my second term, I came after a lot of controversies. It was a slap on the face of those who wanted to keep me out. Some people in BCCI did not want to see me and Bharat Arun as coach, whom they did not want to make bowling coach, he became the best bowling coach of India. He gives coaching to the coaches. I am not pointing fingers at any one person. I am not taking anyone’s name, but it is certain that some people were trying their best that I could not become a coach.
What did Shastri say on Kohli?
I hardly knew anyone in the team except MS Dhoni as I interviewed players on TV. Sachin-Sourav-Rahul-VVS-Anil had all retired. In such a situation, connecting with this team was no less than a challenge for me. I was looking for a player who can lead the team. I saw all those characters in Virat Kohli. Kohli looked ready to replace MS Dhoni both on and off the field.
The coaches were made on the recommendation of the committee
During Shastri’s tenure, the team achieved the number one ranking in Tests. Won many series abroad. The tricolor was hoisted in Australia and England. Ravi Shastri’s tenure also came to an end with the farewell to the World T20. In 2017, the Cricket Advisory Committee (CaC) comprising Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman made him the head coach of the Indian team.
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