Reports: Ravi Shastri appointed the head coach of the Indian team till World Cup 2019

After weeks of drama, suspense and speculation, reports suggest that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has appointed former Indian allrounder Ravi Shastri as the head coach of the Indian cricket team. Shastri is said to have been offered a contract till the 50 overs World Cup to be played in 2019. It was just yesterday that the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) interviewed all the shortlisted candidates in Mumbai.

Talking on behalf of the CAC, Sourav Ganguly had said that they want to take a few more days and discuss it with the captain Virat Kohli as he returns home from the US and once they are assured that all concerned parties, the board, the CAC as well as the team are on the same page they will make the announcement. But in less than 24 hours it appears that a consensus has been reached and thus the Shastri has been given the role.

Earlier today it was reported that Shastri along with another former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag and Australian Tom Moody had delivered “strong” presentations in front of the CAC yesterday. The former team director had once again attended the interview via video conferencing since he was in London. Ganguly who had skipped his interview the last time was present this time and noted Shastri’s case.

As it emerges, the 55-year-old edged past all the other candidates with his presentation coupled with his vision for the team while he always had the heavier weight on his side with the clear backing of captain Virat Kohli.

Stint as Team Director

The Mumbaikar had earlier held the position of the team director between 2014-2016 before the CAC decided to not give him an extension and rather appoint Anil Kumble as the head coach. It is widely known fact that Shastri always had the vote of confidence from Virat who had vouched for him to first retain his job in 2016 and then prompted that he was the one who reinstates Kumble as well as the Indian team.

During his stint as the director, he took the team from the 7th position in Tests to No.2 from where Kumble pushed them to the top. Shastri has been credited to have built a great camaraderie with the team and for creating an atmosphere where the players understood what the team expected from them and gave them the sense that the management was willing to back them to come good in the long term and the entire focus was not just on getting short-term results.

Shastri’s first assignment will be the series in Sri Lanka where the Indian team will play all the three formats. It is expected to be an easy rider for Virat Kohli & Co. given the Lankans have been very recently defeated by the touring Zimbabwe side in the ODI series 3-2.