Ravi Shastri to apply for India’s head coach role

Shastri's name for the post of the Indian head coach had been doing rounds, since the BCCI invited applications for the post initially in late-May, owing to his chemistry with Indian skipper Virat Kohli. However, after Anil Kumble's resignation from the post, Shastri's name has emerged as one of the favourites to be appointed to the role. Today, however, the former India all-rounder confirmed that he will apply for the post.

“Yes, I have decided to apply for the job,” Shastri was quoted as saying by the Indian Express. 

While a BCCI official had earlier revealed that the 55-year old refused to submit an application till BCCI guarantees his appointment, "It is no secret that skipper Virat Kohli wants Shastri back at helm and Shastri was spoken to so that he applies for the interview process, but the former team director isn't willing to be in a position where his claim is rejected again. He has made it clear that he will speak to the BCCI or CAC on this matter only if he is given a guarantee that he will be handed the job. There is no question of joining a queue and hoping that he is considered for the post," the official had told CricketNext. Shastri, though, has rubbished the claim.

Shastri was India’s team Director until the end of the World Twenty20 in 2016, where India lost to West Indies in the semifinal. During his tenure that started during the middle of the England tour, Shastri had played a significant role in anchoring Test series wins against Sri Lanka (away) and South Africa (home), and India’s journey to the 2015 World T20 semifinal. But the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC), impressed by the attention to detail of Anil Kumble’s presentation, chose him for the Indian coach post, which had irked Shastri then. 

At the moment, apart from Shastri, former Indian opener Virender Sehwag, Sunrisers Hyderabad coach Tom Moody, two-time Pakistan coach Richard Pybus, Afghanistan coach Lalchand Rajput, and Ganesh Dodda appear to be the only applicants.