Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) headed by Kapil Dev is all set to pick the next head coach of the Indian cricket team next month but it looks like Ravi Shastri is already favourite to retain the job. Anshuman Gaekwad, one of the three members of CAC (Shantha Rangaswamy is the third member), has hinted that Shastri might continue to be in the position for another stint with team India as head coach.
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“Speaking purely from the results perspective, he has done quite well. So, besides Ravi, all other positions [in the coaching and support staff] in my opinion are open depending on who is applying, their credentials and whether they meet the criteria of the BCCI,” the Indian legend told mid-day.
Shastri took over as the head coach of the Indian cricket team in July 2017. Under him, India created history by defeating Australia in Test series in 2018/19. With this, Virat Kohli and co became the first Asian team to defeat Australia in Australia. Apart from that, India also reached the semi-final of 2019 World Cup.
Though India’s poor record away from home continued and they lost Test series to South Africa (1-2) and England (1-4). India’s performance in home conditions never came under scrutiny in the Test format.
It is no doubt that Shastri is the favourite to retain the job and early signs are that he will keep his job. He might not be able to keep his staff because for the first time, BCCI also has also advertised for positions like batting coach, bowling coach, fielding coach and manager.
Jonty Rhodes is the only former player who has applied for fielding coach position while J Arun Kumar has thrown his ring for batting coach job. Ravi Shastri will get competition from Robin Singh, who confirmed to The Hindu that he has applied for the head coach position. Mike Hesson is likely to apply for the job but nothing has been confirmed for now.
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It remains to be seen if veterans like Tom Moody, Virender Sehwag and Mahela Jayawardene also join the race. Moody and Sunrisers Hyderabad recently parted ways with franchise roping in Trevor Bayliss.
Sehwag was one of the contenders for the job in 2017 while Jayawardene might apply. But he will have to leave his job at Mumbai Indians if appointed as head coach of the Indian cricket team.