BCCI to float applications for India’s head coach, Ravi Shastri will have to reapply

Following a dominating run in the league stage of the 2019 edition of the World Cup, India couldn’t survive the heat in the all-important semi-final. New Zealand, the runners-up, defeated Virat Kohli & Co by 18 runs at the Old Trafford in Manchester and India’s journey in the mega event ended there. The Men in Blue are next scheduled to tour the West Indies in August for a T20I, ODI and Test series.

After their World Cup campaign, a number of discussions have been going on in the Indian cricketing circles. There are talks of change in leadership, split captaincy and a number of other matters. In the meantime, it has been learned that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is all set to invite fresh applications for the coaching staff. Ravi Shastri, the incumbent head coach, will also have to re-apply for his position.

Changes in India’s team management

“The job openings will be put up on our website in a day or two. Besides the support staff, fresh applications will also be invited for the post of team manager,” a BCCI official, privy to the development, was quoted as saying in Times Now. Shastri was appointed back in 2017 after Anil Kumble stepped down from his position due to some heated exchanges with Kohli, the 30-year-old Indian captain.

Recently, Shankar Basu and Patrick Farhart bid adieu to the national team and a new physio and trainer need to be appointed. The board had already extended the contract of Shastri and the other staff members by 45 days. The tour of West Indies ends in September and in the mean time the BCCI will interview and appoint the new set of personnel.

The squad for the tour is likely to be announced on Friday, July 19 in a meeting, conducted by the BCCI. Barring a few exceptions here and there, a full-strength squad is speculated to be selected with the likes of Virat Kohli included. There are also doubts over veteran MS Dhoni’s position in the Indian team.

A source in the board mentioned that it was surprising to see Dhoni not hanging his boots despite the likes of Rishabh Pant waiting in the wings. MSK Prasad, the chairman of selectors is expected to talk to Dhoni, who is now 38 and his future in international cricket looks uncertain.