Thu. Mar 28th, 2024
Ravi Shastri

In his first interview since getting the post of the head coach of the Indian cricket team, Ravi Shastri admitted that he has matured immensely in the last two weeks. The former Indian captain also mentioned about the challenges ahead, first of which is the tour to Sri Lanka comprising three Tests, five ODIs and a Twenty20 starting July 26.

He said, “I have matured since we last went to Sri Lanka. I feel I have matured a lot in the last two weeks.”

Shastri got the job ahead of Virender Sehwag and Tom Moody and replaced Anil Kumble, who had resigned a while back.

“I don’t come with any baggage. The team has done exceedingly well in the last three years, they are the people who deserve credit. The Ravi Shastris and Anil Kumbles will come and go. If India is the number one Test team today, it is because of the effort of the players.

“People will come and go. The fabric of Indian cricket will remain,” Shastri said.

When asked about Bharat’s role and contribution in the team, Shastri praised him saying, “There is track record there. Fifteen years of his life has been coaching. He has been with A teams, u-19 teams, junior World Cup teams. He knows the boys better than I do.

“In the 2015 World Cup, our bowlers took 77 out of 80 wickets. If he was a big name, you would have put him on the top of the tree. I don’t need to elaborate too much on what he is good at. It is there for everyone to see.”

Shastri describing the importance of communication between captain and support staff said,

“I will answer this in two parts, as a player and former captain. When you play the game, you want your mind clear and that happens with good communication with the support staff.

“As captain, my job was to put every player in this frame of mind. That was my job and that’s his job.”

By Naman