With Anil Kumble’s resignation as the coach of the Indian cricket team, the race to fill the position has been split wide open. Heading the list of the contenders is Ravi Shastri, former Indian cricketer, and director of the team between 2014 and 2016. Under Ravi in the World Cup 2015, India managed to reach the semi finals of the contest. Shastri had also applied for the job of head coach last year, but Kumble was preferred then. The Cricket Advisory Committee, led by Sourav Ganguly had reportedly been incensed back then over Shastri holidaying in Thailand and not appearing for the interview in person. However, that seems to be in the past now, with Shastri back as a frontrunner.
We ask cricket experts if Shastri will indeed make for an ideal candidate to coach team India? Who else would they like to see coaching the team?
‘Rahul Dravid will also help the players gel as a team’
Capt. Manohar Sharma, President, Veterans Cricket Association Hyderabad, and former Ranji Trophy player
I think Ravi Shastri is an ideal candidate, as he understands the team well. He has it in him to bridge the gap that there is in the team right now. He can make the Indian team a match-winning one, as he has also played and won a world cup for the country. However, another cricketer I would like to see coach Team India is Rahul Dravid. Going for someone who has recently retired will help the players gel as a team and he will be able to understand the youngsters really well. Rahul is patient, talented and a well-balanced person. Based on what I have seen, all the players have high regard for him as well.
‘The person should have a respecatble CV as coach’
Aakash Chopra, former Indian cricketer
I’m not pro or against anybody. I just want that whoever team India decides to have as a coach, should have decent coaching credentials and coaching experience, because those are the things that really matter. They should have the Indian cricket team members on board as well, because you can’t have a coach with whom the team is not comfortable. I don’t care about the name, I just care about how good the coach is. The person should have a respectable CV as a coach and a good vision for team India going forward. There are five more coaches apart from Ravi and it’s still a long time till July 9. Maybe we’ll have more people applying for the post.
‘They need someone with good managerial skills’
Nayan Mongia, former Indian cricketer
It’s good that Ravi Shastri has applied, but I believe that it is possible for anyone with a certain level of experience to do so. Ultimately, it is up to the three-member committee to make the final selection and I believe that they will make the correct decision. Two vital characteristics that they should look for are that it is someone with good managerial skills and also someone who has a good rapport with the players.
‘For a coach, it’s important to create good chemistry’
Abhirup Bhattacharya, Author of Winning Like Virat: Think and Succeed Like Kohli
With the 2019 Cricket World Cup fast approaching, I think it’s crucial for the board to find the right coach who can gel well with the team and manage them well. For a coach, it’s important to create good chemistry with the team because while a captain manages the cricketers on the field, he (the coach) is the one who takes care of everything off the field. So instead of choosing a particular name, I would say getting the coach of the above mentioned credentials is a must before we start our preparations for the all-important world cup.
‘Eventually, it’s the players who do the job’
Rajeev Pillai, actor, model and cricketer
Ravi Shastri, since he was asked by Virat Kohli, the present captain, and Sachin Tendulkar, the great, submitted his application. That itself shows it’s for the betterment of Indian cricket. If you go back in history when India won T20 World Cup in 2007, we had no chief coach and in 2011ODI World Cup, we had Gary Kirsten, who was more of a friend to the players. Eventually I believe, that whoever the coach, it’s the players who do the job. So, if they are in their comfort zone, that’s the best for team India.
‘Virender Sehwag would be a brilliant candidate too’
Taha Farooqui, cricket coach, Karnataka Institute of Cricket
Ravi Shastri was the director of the Indian cricket team and is well aware of the in and outs regarding the players, which makes him an excellent choice as a coach. If not him, Virender Sehwag would be a brilliant candidate too since he was an aggressive batsman and rather calm and cool on the field. He can help the team remain calm in times of crisis and also motivate them with aggression as well.
