Ravi Shastri controversies: Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has always been in the eye of controversies as a commentator. His blunt responses on air didn’t make everyone happy. Hence, it was expected that there would be controversies when he took charge as the head coach. But even before that, he was dropped as the team director only be reappointed nine months later. Then, there were controversial decisions involving Ambati Rayudu and Ajinkya Rahane while his recent book launch party in London that created a lot of controversies.
However, his unceremonious axing in 2016 to make way for Anil Kumble should top it all. Ravi Shastri said, there was a plot to not see him succeed and not get the job. InsideSport takes a look at Ravi Shastri’s five controversies during his tenure as the head coach.
Ravi Shastri controversies: Former head coach speaks out on 5 controversies during his tenure, check out
Also Read: Ravi Shastri opens up on ‘lowest point’ in coaching career, says, ‘In a state of shock for days’
1. Dropped as the team director: After being appointed as the team director after the disastrous England tour in 2014, Shastri was asked to leave unceremoniously in 2016. In his place, Anil Kumble was appointed. But then, he was asked to reapply and he was back as the head coach. Shastri told TOI that he believed someone was plotting against him.
“In less than two years after I was asked to set aside my broadcast career, leave everything else and join the team, I suddenly found myself out for no reason. I had sown the seeds and the fruits were beginning to show and out of nowhere I came to know I was being replaced. Nobody told me why. Yes, more than anything, it hurt because of the manner in which it was done,” Ravi Shastri said.
Now that the penny has dropped…thank you so much for making me part of this incredible journey. Memories that I will cherish and a team that I will continue to back till the time I’m able to watch the sport #TeamIndia @imVkohli @ImRo45 @ajinkyarahane88 🇮🇳🙏🏻
— Ravi Shastri (@RaviShastriOfc) November 13, 2021
2. Dropping Ambati Rayudu for World Cup: Prepare a batsman for the coveted No 4 spot and then drop him before the most important tournament the World Cup 2019. Ambati Rayudu’s axing for Vijay Shankar was one of the most controversial decisions in his tenure. Shastri said he had no say in the team selection and he was against the idea of taking three wicketkeepers to the World Cup.
Also Read: IND vs PAK: Inzamam Ul Haq claims ‘relation between Virat Kohli, Ravi Shastri and BCCI’ not great
Ravi Shastri controversies: Former head coach speaks out on 5 controversies during his tenure, check out
“I had no say. But I wasn’t okay with three wicketkeepers being picked for the WC. Either Ambati or Shreyas could’ve come in. What was the logic in having MSD, Rishabh Pant and Dinesh Karthik all together?” Ravi Shastri said.
3. Dropping Ajinkya Rahane in South Africa: Why would a team drop their one of the best batsmen in overseas conditions? It was hard to explain but Ajinkya Rahane was dropped for the Cape Town Test in 2018. Shastri said it was between Rohit or Ajinkya and the former was chosen based on his for.
“It was always going to be between Rohit and Ajinkya. There was no space for both. Rohit had got runs and we had been watching that Test hunger build in him. So, we went by form,” Ravi Shastri said.
4. Bharat Arun’s appointment: Bharat Arun’s appointment was not straightforward either. Arguably, the best bowling coach India has seen, under Arun’s tutelage, India churned out world-class fast bowlers. Shastri said ‘some individuals’ in the BCCI didn’t want him to take the job.
Ravi Shastri controversies: Former head coach speaks out on 5 controversies during his tenure, check out
“They didn’t want to give me Bharat Arun either as the bowling coach. And looking at how things panned out, the very guy they didn’t want as the bowling coach went on to become the finest bowling coach this country has ever had. And I’m not pointing any fingers at the BCCI, except some individuals. I must say an attempt was made to ensure I didn’t get the job,” Ravi Shastri said.
“He is champion coach. I’ve known him since 1979 and have seen him not just coach cricketers but coach coaches, set up their curriculums, hand over Level-3 certificates at NCA. A thoroughly ingrained coach. Someone I’d seen from close quarters,” Shastri added.
Ravi Shastri controversies: Former head coach speaks out on 5 controversies during his tenure, check out
5. London book launch party: During the England tour, Shastri’s book launch party in London turned out to be a super-spreader event. Apart from Shastri himself, bowling coach Bharat Arun, fielding coach R Sridhar and two team physios contracted Covid-19. The Virat Kohli-led team refused to take the field as the 5th Test was abandoned. But a defiant Shastri said, he didn’t regret that and pressed that no one got Covid from that event.
“I have absolutely no regrets because the people I met at that function were fabulous. And it was good for the boys to get out and meet different people rather than constantly being in their rooms,” Ravi Shastri told The Guardian.
Where to next?
While he has left the team in good shape. The post Shastri era has turned upside down. Virat Kohli quit T20I captaincy and he was forced out as the ODI captaincy while Rohit Sharma was installed as the Test vice-captain. The disastrous T20 World Cup was a blot on his coaching career. But Shastri is unperturbed and wants to spend some time with his mom and family before taking up a new challenge.
“I’ll spend time with mom and family. And then, let’s see, I’ve always been open to newer challenges and I’m just 59-going-on-60. There’s another decade of good work to do,” Ravi Shastri said.
Ravi Shastri controversies: Former head coach speaks out on 5 controversies during his tenure, check out
