New India coach Ravi Shastri promises more freedom for players

NEW DELHI (Reuters): New India cricket coach Ravi Shastri plans to adopt a more hands-off approach to the role than his predecessor Anil Kumble, with the 55-year-old saying he has no intention of trying to act as a tutor the players.

Kumble stepped down last month citing a breakdown in his relationship with skipper Virat Kohli, who according to media reports, resented the former captain’s ‘headmasterly’ methods.

Shastri was handed the coaching reigns on Tuesday, a year after losing the job to Kumble, and the former all-rounder promised a fresh outlook to the job.

“At the highest level, cricketers are more or less settled,” Shastri told the Times of India newspaper.

“So it is more to do with working on their mental strength, helping build their confidence, helping them stay organised in their daily activities as against tinkering with their style of play.

“It’s not about ‘tutoring’ them about everything and telling them what and what not to do. There’s very little coaching at the highest level. It’s about fine-tuning and mentoring, about effective communication.”

Shastri, who has served as team director in the past, enjoys a good rapport with Kohli and said he had no issues with players having more freedom off the field.

“Why should I change anyone’s style, or for that matter, why should anyone change his own style of doing things?

“As long as there’s a level of commitment, the hard yards are being put in and results are showing, why shouldn’t there be fun?”

The Indian cricket board has also named former seamer Zaheer Khan as the team’s bowling consultant, while Rahul Dravid was appointed as batting consultant for overseas test series.

The first challenge for the new coaching set-up will begin later this month when India tour Sri Lanka for three tests, five one-dayers and a sole Twenty20 international.

Trio of new coaches for India raises eyebrows

AFP: A surprise decision by India’s cricket board to appoint two high-profile stars to assist new coach Ravi Shastri has some experts wondering how much autonomy the former all-rounder will wield at the helm.

The cricket board ended months of speculation Tuesday in naming Shastri to replace Anil Kumble, who resigned as head of the world’s top Test side following a bitter fallout with skipper Virat Kohli.

Shastri’s appointment was widely expected but the board’s decision to name ex-players Zaheer Khan and Rahul Dravid as bowling and batting consultants raised eyebrows.

Traditionally, the Board of Control for Cricket in India allows the head coach to pick support staff and the break with convention did not go unnoticed.

“The coach has now got appendages. The BCCI has added more arsenal to the support staff,” prominent cricket commentator and columnist Ayaz Memon told AFP. “The problem could be of too many people.”

Shastri, 55, edged out a host of high-profile contenders for the top job, including Virender Sehwag, Australia’s Tom Moody, Englishman Richard Pybus and former India manager Lalchand Rajput. 

Speculation had been rife that Shastri, who served as India’s team director between 2014 and 2016, would get the nod, especially given his friendly ties with Kohli.

“If Dravid batting consultant and Zaheer bowling coach, is Shastri more “team director” again?” wrote leading Indian commentator Harsha Bhogle on Twitter.

Cricketer-turned commentator Aakash Chopra suggested Shastri’s new role differed little from his old one, saying: “only the designation changes!”

A panel tasked by the Supreme Court with overseeing the affairs of India’s scandal-ridden cricket board appeared pleased with the selection.

“It is a comprehensive recommendation covering all aspects of the coaching requirement of any team,” it said in a statement Wednesday.

“Now that they have made the choice, we sincerely feel that the new combination will steward the team to number one position in the World Cup.”

Shastri’s first assignment starts later this month when India tours Sri Lanka for three Tests starting July 26.

The duration of his post, and that of Khan and Dravid, is two years until the World Cup in 2019.