Former India batsman Ravi Shastri is set to apply for the post of head coach of the Indian cricket team after the BCCI decided to extend the deadline for applications 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 PTI on 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.
Shastri, also a television commentator, 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 the former India legspinner Anil Kumble, who recently stepped down aftet the Champions Trophy due to his differences with skipper Virat Kohli.
It must be noted 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 limited-overs series away against England in 2014, reached the semi-finals 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, also a former India captain.
He had then alleged that Ganguly was not present when he appeared for his interview via Skype, while Ganguly retorted by saying that had Shastri been so interested, he should have appeared in person for the job.
