It took a lot of deliberation, a lot of scrutiny and a lot of speculation; but in the end, the BCCI was able to deliver what the doctor ordered for.
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Ravi Shastri has been appointed as the head coach of India and will continue until the 2019 World Cup. While his credentials as coach, and his off-field behaviour might not be very spectacular, but his close relationship with Kohli meant that he was always the front runner for the job, no matter how much the media hyped up Virender Sehwag.
Tom Moody was also in the fray, but with two Indian candidates on offer, Moody felt like a far-fetched option.
Zaheer Khan was appointed as the bowling coach and Rahul Dravid roped in as batting consultant for overseas Test tours(a dubious position as Dravid is already involved with India A and India U-19).
Ravi Shastri was ecstatic on receiving the offer and said that this team had the potential to reign the test format for a long time.
“It can be a better Test team than any Indian team we have had. This is a team you can travel with. There is a battery of pacers which can do well in all conditions. Their age is such that they are playing at the right time,” Shastri told reporters from a London newspaper.
Shastri’s first assignment would be the Sri Lanka tour. While Sri Lankan cricket is going through a period of rebuilding, Shastri would be weary of the prowess of the Lankans, especially on home soil.
Shastri was also asked about the tussle between Kumble and Kohli and how he would approach the entire situation, to which he said that he would be ready to embrace all kinds of challenges.
“I have always relished a challenge and I am looking forward to my stint with India. When you are asked to open the batting in overcast conditions, it is a challenge.”
“I am used to challenges, bring on another one,” he said.
When asked about his equation with Ganguly, Shastri said there was a lot of mutual respect.
“We are two former captains (Sourav Ganguly), there will be arguments. But there is mutual respect.” he said.
