Efforts were made to sabotage my appointment as Indian coach: Ravi Shastri

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri in a detailed interview with the Times of India has opened up on his two coaching tenures with the Indian national team.

He has spoken elaborately about the formation and the brand of cricket under his tutelage and how the Indian team transformed in the last few years.

When asked about his sacking and the subsequent reappointment a year or so later, Shastri stated that there were people who wanted to sabotage his second stint with the men’s team.

“During my second stint, I came after a huge controversy. And it was literally egg on the faces of those who wanted me away. They opted for someone and nine months later they came back to the very guy they threw out.” Shastri spoke on the appointment front.

“...I’m not pointing any fingers in general. Specific people. I must say an attempt was made to ensure that I don’t get the job,” Shastri stated without taking any names.

He further added that the Board of Control for Cricket in India were not very keen on appointing Bharat Arun as coach either, but then he would turn out to be one of the finest India had ever produced.

Shastri would then go on to make India a powerhouse in international cricket by finding a core fast-bowling group that would do incredible things overseas. At the core of the change would be Virat Kohli, under whose tutelage India would win their first Test series in Australia.