Ravi Shastri on Tuesday returned at the helm of Indian cricket as the chief coach, exactly a year after an unceremonious exit, pipping strong contenders such as Virender Sehwag to the coveted post.
Shastri replaced Anil Kumble, who exited after a much publicised difference of opinion with captain Virat Kohli. Making for a star-studded coaching team, former speedster Zaheer Khan took over as the bowling coach while Rahul Dravid was handed over additional responsibility of a batting consultant on specific overseas tours. "On Cricket Advisory Committee's recommendation, we have decided to appoint Ravi Shastri as the chief coach while Zaheer Khan will be appointed bowling coach for a period of two years till 2019," BCCI acting president CK Khanna said. "Rahul Dravid will also help the senior team as a batting consultant on overseas tours — specifically to countries like South Africa, England and Australia."
The development ended the drama surrounding the appointment since BCCI had to refute reports which prematurely announced Shastri as the chosen candidate. It wasn't an easy decision for the three-member Cricket Advisory Committee comprising Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS laxman. It has been learnt that it was a tough fight between Shastri and Sehwag but it was skipper Virat Kohli's strong recommendation about Shastri's successful earlier tenure that swung the deal in favour of BCCI's 'Man for all seasons'.
According to highly-placed sources, former captain Ganguly had reservations about Shastri's appointment but was finally convinced by his illustrious colleague Tendulkar, who wanted the team's wish to be respected.
It was learnt that Shastri however didn't get his choice of bowling coach — Bharath Arun — where Ganguly pulled a coup by getting Zaheer on board.
"Sourav was brought around and convinced about Ravi after it was agreed that Zaheer would be made the bowling coach. Zaheer is such a name that no one could have possibly objected to due to his repertoire of knowledge and a fantastic relation with the current crop," a BCCI official told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
The 38-year old Zaheer played 92 Test matches and 200 One-day Internationals in his magnificent career. The left-armer took 311 wickets in Tests and 282 in ODIs.
For Shastri, it will be a sweet homecoming — his third stint with the national team. The 55-year-old former India captain has earlier been a Cricket Manager during 2007 tour of Bangladesh and then Team Director from 2014 August to 2016 June. "Shastri has been the Team Director in the past, and brings with him a wealth of experience, both as player and as coach," BCCI acting secretary Amitabh Chaudhary was quoted as saying in a media release.
On Zaheer's appointment, Chaudhary said, "Khan is a contemporary cricketer who assumed the mentoring role to a young fast bowling unit even during his playing days with India. His inputs will be of immense value to our young fast bowlers, who have shown tremendous potential in the last couple of years."