New Delhi: Former India Team director Ravi Shastri is set to apply for the post of chief coach of the Indian cricket team after the BCCI decided to extend the deadline till July 9.
“Yes, Ravi is very interested and will be applying for the coach’s post very soon,” a source close to Shastri told this agency Tuesday.
It was learnt that if Shastri applies, he will first need an assurance that he will be given a full two-year contract till the 2019 World Cup.
The former India captain will also make sure that he gets his own team of support staff, including bowling coach Bharath Arun, who had done a commendable job during his time with the team.
Shastri, who was the team director from August 2014 to June 2016, was replaced by spin legend Anil Kumble, who recently stepped down due to his differences with skipper Virat Kohli.
It must be noted here that Shastri is Kohli’s preferred choice for the coach’s job as the two shared an excellent rapport. During Shastri’s tenure, India won the limited overs series series away against England in 2014, reached the semifinals of the World Cup and World T20 (2015 and 2016 respectively), won away Test series against Sri Lanka, home series against South Africa and T20 away series against Australia.
However, Shastri does not share a great equation with former India captain and cricket advisory committee (CAC) member Sourav Ganguly. When he lost his position, he had alleged that Ganguly was not present when he appeared for his interview via Skype, while the stylish left-hander retorted by saying that had Shastri been so interested, he should have appeared in person for the job.
However, Ganguly in all fairness had never openly criticised Shastri’s coaching methods. And even if he has reservations about the Mumbaikar, this time it probably won’t help. If sources are to be believed, the two other members of the panel – Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman are in favour of choosing someone who has a very good personal equation with Kohli.
The others who have so far applied for the job are Virender Sehwag, Tom Moody, Ruichard Pybus, Lalchand Rajput and Dodda Ganesh. The BCCI has said that it will have a coach in place before the Indian team tour Sri Lanka next month.