Former Team India Director, Ravi Shastri has spoken out after Anil Kumble was announced as the head coach of the Indian Cricket Team for the duration of one year. Shastri was left disappointed at not being picked as the coach after being one of the main contenders for the job.
As the countdown to the new Indian coach was boiling down, it was Kumble and Shastri who were the frontrunners for the job. Shastri, who is currently on vacation, expressed his dissatisfaction with the decision taken by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). He, however, conveyed his best wishes to Kumble.
“Yes, for the work put in, and results produced in the last 18 months. But if it (tenure) was for only one year then, not really,” Shastri told Mid-Day.
Shastri had taken over the role of Team Director after India's disastrous Test series in England in 2014. He had worked along with then head coach, Duncan Fletcher since August 2014 and held the role of the Team Director until the most recent ICC World T20.
Even after the departure of Fletcher, Shastri remained in the directorial role and mentored the team. Shastri helped India to reach the semi-finals of the 2015 ICC World Cup as well as well as of the 2016 World T20. India also won a Test series in Sri Lanka for the first time in 22 years under the mentorship of Shastri.
Following such success, it does seem like the former Indian all-rounder has a fair reason to be disappointed with the decision of the BCCI. The 54-year-old, however, expressed happiness following the time he spent with the Indian team.
“It's time to move on and do what you do best. I must say I had the ultimate experience with a young and happening side,” Shastri said.
In the 21-man list of candidates, Kumble was not a part as he did not have any coaching experience or coaching certificates. Shastri was the main contender of the 21 remaining candidates. However, the BCCI had opened a window for those candidates who did not have any experience before the final interview.
The decision for the coach role was made based on the recommendation of the BCCI Advisory Committee, that includes the trio of Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, and VVS Laxman. There are reports that Ganguly is the one who pushed for Kumble's appointment as the coach. Ganguly, who is also the President of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), holds a strong position and it would have been difficult for the BCCI to not heed his opinion.
Kumble will take over the coaching responsibilities from India’s next series that will be in West Indies from the July 21. Most of the Indian cricketers have welcomed the former leg-spinner with open arms and are looking forward to working with the new coach.
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