Minutes after the Indian players bid an emotional farewell to Ravi Shastri, the head coach thanked former BCCI president N. Srinivasan for convincing him to take up the job as Team Director in 2014.
“It’s been one heck of a journey for me. I know it is my last day in the dressing room, I just spoke to the boys... I would like to thank the BCCI for giving me this opportunity believing that I could do the job. I wish the coach coming after me [Rahul Dravid] all the luck,” Shastri said.
Thanking “all the committees, including Vinod Rai and his team” which appointed him, Shastri singled out Srinivasan for praise. “One man I would like to give special mention — his name is N. Srinivasan. He was the man who insisted in 2014 that I do this job. In fact, I didn’t have the belief I could do it. But he seemed to have more belief in my ability than I had.
“I hope I haven’t let him down... so, sir, if you are listening, I got the opportunity and I did my work without any agenda.”
Despite India achieving a lot of success in Tests, particularly overseas, Shastri’s tenure ended with India failing to make the semifinal of the ICC T20 World Cup.
“We were disappointed with the result in the first two games. Let’s be honest here, I am not here to make any excuses,” he said.
“We lacked the daring in the second game against New Zealand. It’s something for the boys to learn and they will get a chance again next year. Not often you have two World Cups in 12 months... I hope they go out there and fire.”
Earlier in the day, Shastri, in a chat with former West Indies player Ian Bishop on Star Sports, had admitted that the players were “mentally and physically drained” during the World Cup and didn’t even “try to win” as they weren’t switched on during pressure situations in big games.
“Six months in a bubble... what we would have ideally liked was a bigger gap between the IPL and T20 World Cup... (because) when the big games come, when pressure hits you, you are not that switched on as you should be.
“We are not scared of losing. In trying to win, you will lose a game but here we didn't try to win because that X-factor was missing.”
About Kohli, Shastri said: “A lot of credit goes to him in the way he thought about playing the game and how the team has rallied around him.”
PTI adds:
Hints at pick up the mike again
Manwhile Shastri has hinted that he might return to cricket commentary. The 59-year-old was a celebrated commentator before he became the head coach of the Indian team. That stint ended on Monday with the side's last match of the T20 World Cup here against Namibia.
Shastri was in the commentary box in 2011 when Mahendra Singh Dhoni hit that six off Nuwan Kulasekara to end India's 28-year wait for a World Cup trophy. The former player is game for a second run.
Talking to media after India's win against Namibia, Shastri reflected on his time with the team and while doing so, dropped hints about his future plans.
"I mean, if you look at — if you want the real highlights, nothing beats Australia. England, we're up in the series. It will be the longest time we'll be up in the series until next year.
"I might be commentating on that game for all you know, but I'll keep that one area. It feels good," Shastri said referring to the pending fifth Test against England which was rescheduled to next year due to a COVID-19 outbreak in India's camp in September.
Speculation is also rife that he might take up a coaching role in the IPL.
