Ravi Shastri Is Right Choice But He Now Has To Justify It, Says Former India Skipper Sourav Ganguly

Sourav Ganguly has opined that Ravi Shastri, who will soon be officially appointed as the head coach of Indian cricket team for the second time, will have to justify his reappointment. In a conversation with India Today, the former Indian skipper said that with two T20 World Cups coming up, India will have to find a way to win them.

“Ravi has been doing this for five years (except one year of Anil Kumble) and now been given this responsibility for two more years. So I don’t think anyone else in history has got such a long time with the team. He is the right choice but he now has to justify. He has two T20 World Cups ahead and in such big tournaments, India needs to find ways to win them,” he told India Today.

India have played three ICC tournaments with Shastri the helm. At 2015 World Cup, Ganguly was the team director when India played the semi-final where they lost to Australia. At T20 World Cup in 2016, India lost to West Indies in the semi-final.

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At World Cup 2019, Shastri was the head coach of India when Men in Blue failed to defeat New Zealand in the semi-final. India have been able to clear initial hurdles but have failed to deliver when it matters the most.

With Shastri coaching the sides in next two T20 World Cups and ICC Test championship as well, the former India all-rounder would also want to win a trophy.

Shastri and the present coaching staff is currently on a 45-day extended period. Apar from Head coach Shastri, bowling coach Bharat Arun and fielding coach R Sridhar are set to be reappointed next month. Though there will be a change of batting coach as Sanjay Bangar will be replaced by Vikram Rathour.

The former India opener topped the preference list and Rathour will be handed official contract once he is cleared of conflict of interest.

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The contracts of Shastri and his coaching staff will end after 2021 T20 World Cup. Shastri had joined team India’s backroom staff as a director in 2014 and became the head coach of the side in 2017.