Indian coach Ravi Shastri has revealed that he is enjoying working with captain Virat Kohli across all the formats. The team is making some good progress under the dynamic duo as they won all four ODIs and three tests quite comfortably on the tour of Sri Lanka.
The 55-year old had previously worked as the team director for India between 2014-16. After the differences between Anil Kumble and Virat Kohli in June, the CAC had decided to appoint experienced Shastri as the next coach of India keeping an eye on 2019 World Cup in 18 months time.
So far Shastri has done a decent job and asked if Virat Kohli, who thinks in similar traits being captain helps to make his job easier, Shastri said:
“I think that helps. It makes communication so much easier because when the mindset is similar, and you are on the same page, then that reflects in the way that you will see the other players reacting. When you see this Indian Cricket Team on the field, you feel like watching them play. There is energy; there is camaraderie, an element of sharing, a part of happiness in anyone’s success. There is a great disappointment if they don’t play to their potential, which is very important. It’s a great game.
“It will give you a lot of happiness and at the same time bring you down to earth. That’s the beauty of sport. But, then how you get up as a team and not as an individual, that is what will define this Indian Cricket Team and that is what our endeavor is – to have a great relationship.”
Shastri is optimistic going ahead considering the enormous potential the team has at the moment. There is a lot of competition for every spot in ODIs which looks like a good omen for the team going forward. He also insisted that captain will always be the boss of the team.
“The Captain will always be the boss of the team. I have under me a fantastic support staff who’ve been with me right from day one when I became the Director of the team and today I’m the Head Coach of the team. And there is a certain element of bonding and trust when it comes to the players dealing with the support staff and our job is making them feel relaxed and make them feel that they are in a great mental space. “
India are set to play another ODI and one off T20I with Sri Lanka before beginning limited overs’ home season later this month.