'Saat saal jitna karna tha, mein kar liya' - Ravi Shastri reveals he won't return to coaching duties

No matter which role he is under, be it a player, a commentator, or a coach, former India head coach Ravi Shastri has always been a dynamic personality. He was regarded as a match-winner during his playing career. When he decided to pick up the microphone and entered the broadcasting world after retiring, he charmed the audience with his commanding voice.

When he made his way back into the Indian side as a manager and subsequently as the head coach, he brought the same vibe with him. Especially in the traditional format of the game, the Indian squad explored uncharted waters under Shastri's leadership. Though India could not bag an ICC trophy during his tenure, the Men in Blue made history in the whites by conquering England in 2021 and upsetting Australia two times in a row in their backyard.

He declared that his stint as a coach was at an end after finishing his job on a high note. Shastri revealed to Sports Today that he will be watching and enjoying the game from the sidelines, and will not be getting into the coaching duties again.

“Mera coaching ka hisaab khatham ho gaya (My time with coaching has come to an end). Saat saal jitna karna tha, mein kar liya (For seven years, I have done enough). If I’m doing some coaching, it will be at the grassroots level, for which I have a company that is doing it. I will participate in that. Otherwise, my time as a coach has come to an end. Now I will view the game from far away and enjoy it,” said Shastri.

India scripted history under Shastri's leadership

After India's regrettable elimination from the T20 World Cup 2021, Shastri's term as the head coach ended last year. The Virat Kohli-led team lost two games in a row, first against Pakistan and then against New Zealand, jeopardizing their prospects of making it to the semi-finals of the marquee event. 

Even though the team won its following three games against Afghanistan, Scotland, and Namibia, it was already too late. After India was eliminated from the World Cup, Shastri decided to step down from the role. Shastri made a comeback to the commentary box earlier this year at the IPL 2022. As the event's commissioner, he is currently in charge of the Legends League Cricket (LLC) 2022's operations.