There is still no disclosure on who will be India’s next head coach, but many feel that Ravi Shastri is the strongest contender in the race. Former Indian team director Ravi Shastri applied for the post after the resignation of Kumble. After him, Virender Sehwag and Tom Moody remain to be the most preferred candidates for being the head coach.
Former Indian Captain and legendary batsman Sunil Gavaskar also feels that Ravi Shastri will grab this post. In an interview, Gavaskar said, “Ravi (Shastri) actually was the one where the turnaround actually started for the Indian cricket team back in 2014. After India lost in England, the BCCI asked him to come in as a team director… suddenly there was a change in the team’s fortunes over a period of time. Now that he’s applied, he’s probably the man who is going to get the job.”
Also, Ravi Shastri being team’s favourite makes him a suitable candidate for the job. Previously, Virat Kohli had also requested CAC to consider Ravi Shastri for the post of the coach even before he applied.
As BCCI awaits for more applications till 9th July, interviews for the applied candidates are scheduled to be held on 10th July by CAC comprising of Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman. Apart from Ravi Shastri, Sehwag and Tom Moody, other big names in the list are Lalchand Rajput, Richard Pybus and Dodda Ganesh.
Gavaskar differentiated Ravi from the rest by saying that he has experience and has been with the team before and seems comfortable with them. “I would imagine the CAC would go back to a person the team feels comfortable with and give him the job,” he added.
Last year also, Ravi Shastri applied for the post of head coach, but Anil Kumble was chosen above him. But now, there is no Anil Kumble and coach’s post lies vacant.
When asked about the recent loss of Indian team again West Indies in which MS Dhoni‘s slow half century is being considered as a factor in the loss, Gavaskar said that Dhoni is not to be blamed. “It was a team batting failure,” Gavaskar said.