Ravi Shastri & Co. Likely To Get Contract Extension Before WC: Report

The speculations over whether Ravi Shastri and his fellow backroom staff will get a contract extension has become a major topic of discussion ahead of the World Cup. Ravi Shastri & Co will run out of contract in July this year. Shastri was appointed in mid-2017 after the conclusion of the ICC Champions Trophy when Anil Kumble had sensationally stepped down as head coach of the team. And his contract alongside that of bowling coach Bharat Arun, batting coach Sanjay Bangar and fielding coach R Sridhar will expire at the end of this year’s World Cup.

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Shastri & Co. have done a fine job since taking charge in 2017. Earlier this year, India won their first-ever Test series and bilateral ODI series in Australia. The Men in Blue then won the ODI series in New Zealand 4-1. Last year, the team won ODI series and T20I series in South Africa before winning the Nidahas Trophy. It was followed by a T20I series win in England and a triumphant campaign in the Asia Cup.

Currently, the team is No 1 in Tests and No 2 in the ODI and No 2 Twenty20 ICC rankings. today.

And according to reports, the coaching staff has a good chance of getting an extension even before the World Cup. The authorities are reportedly happy with their work and are inclined to stretch the contract beyond the forthcoming World Cup in England. As per reports in Sporstar, the current coaching staff has a good rapport with Virat Kohli and the rest of the team. With the results also going India’s way, the coaches stand a good chance of getting an extension.

In in case, the Committee of Administrators (CoA) decides to invite fresh applications for the posts, the current lot would qualify automatically. In such a case, the process to select the coach will have to start even before the team leaves for the World Cup which could cause unnecessary distraction. There is a section in the BCCI  which believes it would not be advisable to create any uncertainty before the team leaves for England.

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The report further claimed that the coaches are likely to get an extension which may last until the 2020 T20 World Cup.