Rewind: 1992 – India, the first team to tour South Africa after the end of apartheid. Ravi Shastri – vice captain.
Towards the end of the tour, troubled by a knee injury, Shastri consulted a leading ortho expert who suggested immediate surgery. He agreed, the surgery happened but the damaged knee would not mend. Did the best we could, said the surgeon, and advised Shastri that, from now, he won't be able to play professional sport.
Despite this crushing blow Shastri tried hard to get fit and returned to active cricket. But when the knee did not hold up he took the blow on the chin and moved on. Cricket career over: 80 Test matches,150 ODIs. At the age of 30!
July 2017: Ravi Shastri, Head Coach, Team India.
Put aside Anil Kumble for the moment, focus attention on Ravi Shastri. Consider the entire package (background, experience, track record, all round expertise, skill set) and judge what he brings to the table.
A 360 Degree Cricket Person
Scour round the cricket world, in India and elsewhere – there isn't anyone more 360 cricket than Ravi Shastri!
He has travelled this world non stop for 40 years, his journey starting as a young left-arm spinner in the the 80's who was taking wickets and dismissing sides in Bombay's local cricket. Spotted by maidan experts, word about his prowess reached the Nirlon office where sat Sunil Gavaskar, cricket supremo, Bombay's Ranji captain.
Gavaskar, the story goes, took one look at the young bowler and included him in the team. Given this break, Shastri raced up the cricket highway, well, ‘like a tracer bullet’.
Within two years, through good performances (many wickets in Ranji) and good fortune (injury to Dilip Doshi, the main Indian spinner) Shastri was in New Zealand wearing the India cap in 1981. Once there, he did not look back and climbed the ladder, one leaping step after another.
Ravi Shastri's continued rise was marked by three special features.
- He moulded himself to the circumstances that surrounded him and reinvented himself to remain useful at different stages of his career. Started as a specialist spinner but became a batting all-rounder, then a specialist batsman who opened the innings.
- He was always combative, spunky and khadoos – someone who fought relentlessly and put a heavy price on his wicket. Did not mind a scrap and was not known to back off. He played cricket with a straight spine, strong self belief and a steely glare. Not just that: Shastri, off the field, had a strong opinion and was not afraid to voice his views.
- He made the most of his gifts, and perhaps played above his potential to end up with 11 Test centuries. Shastri's overseas record as opener is not to be sneered at as he scored centuries against quality attacks – West Indies, Pakistan, Australia and so on.
The final verdict on Shastri, the all rounder: utility cricketer who maximised his potential. Astute cricket mind. Asset in the dressing room.
Shastri’s Second Innings
Once done with active playing, Shastri wasted no time to reboot himself and start a new innings as a multifaceted cricket personality. Ignoring adversity (knee injury tragically cutting his career short) Shastri plunged headlong into media work. As commentator, expert, analyst, cricket writer, anchor he carved a special position for himself. Shastri was fearless, on the front foot, pulled no punches and came out swinging, calling things as he saw them. Critical, yes, but always positive, upbeat and constructive.
In this second innings of his life, Shastri also acquired serious administrative experience. Besides watching cricket from close quarters and see it evolve, Shastri was part of the IPL Governing Council and headed the National Cricket Academy for three years.
All the time, he kept his eyes open and ear close to the ground to understand the shifting ground reality of the sport. Observing cricket from different angles helped Shastri develop a broad perspective and the ability to step back to take in the larger picture.
Not a “Yes Man”
The snide observation that coach Shastri will only be a 'yes man' couldn't be more wrong. The exact boundaries of a captain/coach relationship are set by the BCCI who have drawn the lines and decided that the captain is supreme, the coach performs only a supporting role. A person appointed coach has to respect this, so will Shastri. He understands the rules, and the ruling, that the captain is the Field Marshall.
Under the 'separation of powers' the coach is the boss in the dressing room, his brief is to prepare troops for battle and create the right environment for individuals to give their best for the team.
Read: In India, the Coach vs Captain Tug of War Is Designed to Never End
Those who think Shastri will submissively toe the captain's line fail to understand that he is a proud, self respecting individual who has a mind (to think) and a voice (to express his opinion).
The basic question is: is Shastri the best man for the job and whether he will make a good coach? The short answer: there is no reason he won’t. He has the experience and the skills to succeed. Also, he has the respect and the trust of the captain, and bonds well with the other players in the team.
Having extensively travelled international cricket, it's highway and bylanes, Ravi Shastri – the 360 degree cricket person – knows the road, the bumps on the way and the speed breakers. He will be a good coach to a good captain: part caring elder, part motivational speaker. Someone who knows his stuff, someone with enthusiasm and positivity in his DNA.
(Amrit Mathur is a senior journalist, former GM of the BCCI and Manager of the Indian Cricket Team. He can be reached at @AmritMathur1)
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