Shastri on exit: Never overstay welcome
NEW DELHI/LONDON: Ravi Shastri will end his stint as India head coach with the T20 World Cup in October-november happy with the timing and what he has achieved. “I’ve achieved all I wanted. Five years as No.1, to win in Australia twice, to win in England,” he said.
“For me, this is the ultimate— to beat Australia in Australia and win in England in Covid times. We lead England 2-1 and the way we played at Lord’s and the Oval was special,” he said. “We’ve also beaten every country in the world in their backyard in white-ball cricket. If we win the World Cup that will be the icing on the cake.” “I believe one thing—never overstay your welcome. And I would say that, in terms of what I wanted to get out of the side I’ve over-achieved.”
Shastri and skipper Virat Kohli have not won an ICC trophy together.
“We’re going to give it everything. Absolutely. We’ve got the team to win if we play to our potential. Above all we’re going to enjoy it. Forget Test match pressure. T20 cricket is meant to be enjoyed. I plan on going out on a real high,” he said. The 59-year-old former India allrounder is in quarantine in London after he, bowling coach Bharat Arun, batting coach R Sridhar and physio Nitin Patel tested positive for Covid. They are waiting for clearance to fly home.
The cancellation of the fifth Test at Old Trafford came after the Covid-19 outbreak in the Indian camp was compounded with the second physio Yogesh Parmar testing positive.
Book launch row
The health breach has been blamed on Shastri’s book launch function in London before the Oval Test. Shastri rejected the possibility. “At the Oval Test, you were climbing stairs used by 5,000 people. So to point a finger at a book launch? There were 250 people there and no-one got Covid from that party.
“I’ve not got it at my book launch because it was on the 31st (August) and I tested positive on 3 September. It can’t happen in three days. I think I got it in Leeds. England opened up on 19 July and suddenly the hotels were back, lifts were back. No restrictions.”
Kumble, Laxman in race? The Indian cricket board could ask former skipper Anil Kumble to apply for the post of head coach along with VVS Laxman when Shastri’s term ends.
Kumble held the post for a year in 2016-17 after replacing Shastri, but a fall-out with Virat Kohli led to his resignation after the ICC Champions Trophy final defeat against Pakistan.
“Kumble’s exit needs course correction. The manner in which the COA (Committee of Administrators) succumbed to Kohli’s pressure and removed him wasn’t the best example set. It also depends on whether Kumble or Laxman are ready to apply for the job,” a senior BCCI source privy to the development, who did not wish to be named, told PTI.