Ravi Shastri likely to remain Team India coach

MUMBAI: Ravi Shastri, the present head coach of the Indian national team, will in all likelihood retain his position with an extended two-year stint later this month. After completing a very hectic two-year stint that began in July 2017, Shastri's candidature for the role remained a direct entry for the selection process that is on right now.

The cricketer turned commentator turned coach is likely to be handed the extended reign that will conclude in 2021 with the T20 World Cup, a property that until now was called the 50-over ICC Champions Trophy^[2].

Between now and 2021, India are scheduled to play two T20 championships alongside participating in the ICC Test Championship Cycle that gets underway with the tour of West Indies. In 2020, the ICC's one-day championship cycle will also begin and it will be Shastri's responsibility to chart the road ahead.

Under Shastri, India have won a little more than 70% of their matches that include the historic Test series win in Australia, two Asia Cup titles, a dominating run in the recent 50-over World Cup and the defining victory in the third of the three-Test series at the Wanderers in January last year. On the flip side, it is the 1-2 series loss in South Africa and the debacle in England that stacks up apart from the semi-final exit in the recent World Cup.

The win ratio aside, the entire team led by skipper Virat Kohli^[3], is backing Shastri to retain the job. "In 2017, he was the team's first choice. In 2019, he's once again the team's first choice. Virat didn't even mince words when asked about this the other day," those in the know told TOI.

The deadline to submit applications for the role of head coach and support staff ended on Tuesday and only one other CV has come in so far that matches up to the profiles requested by the BCCI - Tom Moody^[4]. Moody, however, is a current director, cricket, in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), has for long been associated with IPL franchises, and last coached a national team in 2007.

Alongside Shastri, bowling coach Bharat Arun^[5] is also set to be retained post his two-year stint. Under his supervision, India's bowling attack - both, in the red and white ball formats - has proved to be the best in the world and Arun is once again set to receive his due.

New batting coach likely

While Shastri and Arun are all set to retain their positions, the spaces that will be in focus soon are that of the batting and fielding coaches. "The board is likely to revisit the position of batting coach and look for a suitable profile. It's a little early to say how that will work out but unlikely that Sanjay Bangar will continue. There's a need to get someone with fresher ideas going forward," say sources.
As far as the fielding coach is concerned, R Sridhar remains the frontrunner to be retained, except that South African fielding legend Jonty Rhodes too has put in his CV.
Jayawardene not in race
Contrary to reports that former cricketer Mahela Jayawardene has applied with the BCCI to work with the Indian team, the batsman-turned-coach is "not interested". Jayawardene is presently employed with Mumbai Indians and that is where he will continue to work. "He has not applied," say sources.
^[1][6][7][8]

References

1. ^{^} Ravi Shastri (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
2. ^{^} ICC Champions Trophy (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
3. ^{^} Virat Kohli (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
4. ^{^} Tom Moody (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
5. ^{^} Bharat Arun (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
6. ^{^} Sanjay Bangar (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
7. ^{^} Jonty Rhodes (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
8. ^{^} Mahela Jayawardene (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)

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