Ravi Shastri named coach finally. Virat Kohli must keep his eyes on the ball now
After days of speculation and needless drama, former Indian all-rounder and team director Ravi Shastri was appointed the head coach of the Virat Kohli-led Indian cricket team on Tuesday, July 11, evening.
The past one month, starting from India's defeat to arch-rivals Pakistan in the Champions Trophy final in June, has been full of drama for Indian cricket. The coach-captain rift between Anil Kumble and Virat Kohli came out in the open, with Jumbo resigning stating that his partnership with Virat had become "untenable".
Hence, the Indian team landed in West Indies without a coach. The BCCI invited applications soon after, with Tom Moody, Virender Sehwag, Lalchand Rajput, Dodda Ganesh and Richard Pybus applying for the coaching role before the deadline expired. The date for the application was extended later, and it is quite clear now this was meant to clear the decks for Ravi Shastri.
The mutual admiration between Kohli and Shastri is no secret. According to reports, the Indian captain, in fact, batted for Shastri to be coach before leaving for the Champions Trophy in England. Shastri has served as the team director from 2014 to 2016 and was always the front-runner for the coach’s post.
For Shastri, one of India's better all-rounders of the game, it has come a full circle, after he was overlooked in favour of Kumble last year. A bitter Shastri didn't take the rejection too well and blamed former Indian captain and member of the cricket advisory panel, Sourav Ganguly, for his ouster. Since then, Ganguly and Shastri have had a bitter relationship.
To Shastri''s allegations, Ganguly had retorted, "I just feel that the comments are very personal and if Ravi Shastri feels that I am responsible for him not being the coach of India, he's living in a fool's world."
Cut to the present. On Monday, July 10, BCCI's Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC), comprising Sourav Ganguly, along with Tendulkar and VVS Laxman, were in-charge of choosing the coach. True to the high drama witnessed in Indian cricket, this episode was also full of suspense. Late on Monday evening, Ganguly said the announcement will only be made after a discussion with Virat Kohli.
On Tuesday evening, even news outlets added to the already absurd situation by "breaking" the news that Shastri has been appointed. BCCI secretary Amith Chaudhary denied the development. However, later in the day, a BCCI statement confirmed the news.
Reportedly, Ganguly had reservations about Shastri's appointment, but Kohli's strong recommendation made the decision swing in his favour. Interestingly, Ganguly was finally convinced by Tendulkar, who wanted the team's wish to be respected.
However, staying true to the filmy script of the great Indian coaching drama, Ganguly did manage to stage a "coup" of sorts. Shastri's choice of bowling coach, Bharath Arun, was ignored for former Indian pacer Zaheer Khan as bowling consultant.
So it is Shastri after all. Very happy to see @ImZaheer as bowling coach. Kept teasing the question in the West Indies but was tight-lipped!
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) July 11, 2017
"Sourav was brought around and convinced about Ravi after it was agreed that Zaheer would be made the bowling coach," a BCCI official told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
That is not all. The ever-dependable Rahul Dravid was appointed as India's batting consultant for overseas Test series. So, with Dravid, one of the finest exponents of the modern game, and Khan, a rare great Indian fast-bowler, Team India has all bases covered, at least in the coaching department.
However, this also raises the question if Shastri is "actually" the head coach or back to his previous role of "team director". With Dravid's and Zaheer's induction, has the CAC cut down on Shastri's powers?
This was pointed out by Harsha Bhogle and other experts on social media as well.
Overseas tours is where the challenge lies. If Dravid batting 'consultant' and Zaheer bowling coach, is Shastri more "team director" again?
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) July 11, 2017
If Bangar & Sridhar continue in their respective roles, Shastri's role is similar to the one he had earlier...only the designation changes!
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) July 11, 2017
Nevertheless, one hopes that the coach drama is now over and the Indian cricket team goes back to concentrating more on on-field performances. Virat Kohli has got his way this time and undoubtedly will be under tremendous pressure to deliver now - as a batsman and more as a captain.
India are travelling to Sri Lanka next and with challenging tours to South Africa, England and Australia ahead of the 2019 World Cup in England. Kohli now has to deliver on all fronts to stay in the hot seat. He has had more than a say in Kumble's removal and Shastri's elevation. Now, there are no excuses.