Aggression has been an integral part of Ravi Shastri’s cricket grooming. For a man who started his career batting at No. 10, to have hit four centuries, including a double, as opener, is indeed creditable. He has seven more centuries in Tests.
But importantly, he built a reputation of a man who would not take things lying down. “Give it back,” is his mantra.
The line between aggression and bad behaviour though is thin. India’s captain Virat Kohli is a strong character. And the current coach / team director / mentor / manager is no less assertive and they make for an interesting pair. Kohli backs Shastri, who reciprocates with equal intensity. The two are set for a long association with the current Board regime in favour too.
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Duncan Fletcher’s exit as coach at the end of the last World Cup had created a vacancy which has been filled by Shastri. He has past experience too, having performed the job earlier, incidentally in Bangladesh, in 2007. He is prepared for a long innings.
“I will want it on my own terms,” he had said in the run-up to the Board’s quest for a new coach. Apart from Kohli’s preference for Shastri, what convinced the Board was his appeal in the dressing room. The Board wanted a man of ‘stature’ and Shastri fitted the bill.
His reading of the game, close connection with the players, and the ability to grasp the latest trends of the game saw the job land in Shastri’s lap. He was clear in his mind that he was not going to ‘apply’ for the job. There were a few other claimants, the strongest being Sourav Ganguly, but veterans in the Board saw merit in giving the task to a man who was well versed with handling the pressures and demands of modern cricket.
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Shastri’s appointment was a foregone conclusion since the Board had said it was not averse to giving the job to an Indian after having tried, with varied results, John Wright, Greg Chappell, Gary Kirsten and Fletcher.
The stumbling block was a proper contract since Shastri insisted on one. The financial terms have not been worked out yet. Neither has the duration of his term. The Board insists on an annual contract. Shastri has reportedly asked for a two-year one.
The Chappell-Ganguly tussle had left a bitter taste even though Kirsten and Fletcher enjoyed a smooth, if not always fruitful, journey. Kirsten’s vision led him to quit after the 2011 World Cup and Fletcher was confronted with two tough overseas assignments in England and Australia that earned him harsh criticism. His self-desired silence with the media made matters worse for the Zimbabwean.
Shastri is just the opposite, not one to hide behind a no-media curtain. “Ask me anything and everything on record,” has been Shastri’s policy.
Shastri is learnt to have asked for a free hand in picking his support staff. The incumbent support staff is of his choice. One learns he may skip the short tour of Zimbabwe next month where India is likely to send only its second string selection.
His tenure has started on a passive note against a weak opposition but it will lay the foundation for the hard work ahead against Sri Lanka and South Africa. Shastri’s presence ensures a professional working atmosphere and that is what the Board wants. Shastri is in for a long stint.