Virender Sehwag reveals how Ravi Shastri and Virat Kohli ditched him in the Indian head coach saga

It was not long ago that former Indian opener Virender Sehwag lost the battle for the Indian head coach position to Ravi Shastri. The Delhi-born cricketer has come up with an inside story that stated that he was not keen on taking up the job. Sehwag mentioned that he agreed to send in his application after being insisted by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) members.

Sehwag also pointed out that he decided to try his luck after holding discussions with both Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri who promised Sehwag of not being in the race. Sehwag decided to apply for the position left vacant by Anil Kumble after requests from BCCI secretary Amitabh Choudhury. Sehwag was clearly the frontrunner to bag the job until Shastri chipped in with his application following the extension of the deadlines by the BCCI.

What Sehwag said:

“I thought since they [BCCI top-brass] are requesting me, I should help them. I never thought of applying on my own nor I will ever apply in future. I also had a word with Virat Kohli, he asked me to go for it. It was only then that I applied. If you ask for my opinion, I would say that I was never interested,” Sehwag told India TV.

“When I was in England during the Champions Trophy [2017], I had asked Ravi Shastri that why he hasn’t applied for the post? Shastri then told me that he will not repeat the mistake which he had already made once,” Sehwag said.

“If Ravi Shastri had applied earlier, then I don’t think there would have been any chance of me applying for the post. I would have never applied.” added the ‘Nawab of Najafgarh’.

However, Shastri’s appointment is turning out to be a masterstroke by the BCCI. Virat Kohli and his men whitewashed Sri Lanka in their own backyard across all formats registering an incredible 9-0 margin. They will now face the Australians in the limited over formats at home and are clearly the favourites going into the series.