As Ravi Shastri’s tenure as head coach of the Indian cricket team ends after the Twenty20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates and Oman scheduled this year in November, he has hinted that he will not seek an extension of his contract.
“I believe one thing – never overstay your welcome. And I would say that, in terms of what I wanted to get out of the side, I’ve over-achieved,” Shastri said in an interview.
“I believe so because I’ve achieved all I wanted. Five years as No 1 [in Test cricket], to win in Australia twice, to win in England. I spoke to Michael Atherton earlier this summer and said: ‘For me, this is the ultimate – to beat Australia in Australia and win in England in Covid times.’ We lead England 2-1 and the way we played at Lord’s and the Oval was special,” he further said.
Shastri has hitherto overseen two Test series victories in Australia, although India crashed out in the semi-finals of the 2019 World Cup in England.
So who will be the next if Shastri steps down? Reports have been circulating that BCCI might ask Anil Kumble and VVS Laxman to apply for the post of head coach of the Indian team.
Kumble has earlier been the coach for a year in 2016-17 when the Cricket Advisory Committee headed by Sachin Tendulkar, Laxman and Ganguly had appointed him.
However, a bitter fall-out with captain Virat Kohli led to Kumble tendering his resignation after the Champions Trophy final defeat against Pakistan.
Kohli has already announced that he will quit as T20 captain after the World Cup.
Along with Kumble, the board may also approach Laxman, who has been a mentor of the IPL side Sunrisers Hyderabad for some years now.
“The criteria for BCCI’s coach’s job will be such that only a select few with very good record as player as well as experience of coaching/mentorship can apply for the top job,” a BCCI source said.
