It Will Be Dangerous To Break Ravi Shastri-Virat Kohli Combination, Says BCCI Official

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has invited applications for a new head coach for the Indian team along with other supports staffs. Incumbent head coach Ravi Shastri and his troops’ tenure will come to an end after the upcoming series against West Indies. However, as per reports, BCCI officials belives that Shastri should continue as the head coach as that will help Virat Kohli evolve further as captain.

Shastri to continue as head coach?

Ravi Shastri, who joined the team in 2017 after Anil Kumble decided to step down as the head coach, has enjoyed great success with this Indian team. Under the leadership of Virat Kohli and Shastri, India have made it to the top of the Test rankings, while they occupied the second spot in the ODIs. Also, he is likely to have a good rapport with the players and is well-known for his man-management.

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A BCCI official while speaking to IANS emphasised the need to continue with Ravi Shastri and Virat Kohli at the helms of things. He said that considering the World T20 next year and the 2023 World Cup, Kohli and Shastri are the perfect duo to back the youngsters as they have seen in the last few years.

“Nothing permanent with a long-term effect should happen at this stage of transition. Shastri and Kohli complement each other well and it would be unfair to change half of a team that has been successful,” the official said.

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Furthermore, the official added a change in the equations will mean that the players will have to adapt to a different procedure of the new coach. He also said a break in the continuity will also hamper the success rate of the team under Ravi Shastri and Virat Kohli.

“A change in coach may prove to disturb the equation that exists which allows the players to have the mental space to excel. If a change is made at this stage, then it would be a change of strategy and planning for the next 5 years. It would be unfair to take such a decision at a stage when the stakeholders are not the ones deciding,” the official concluded.