Kolkata: With only a few hours left for the Indian team to have it’s new head coach, the competition has narrowed down to two individuals — Ravi Shastri and Virender Sehwag, both of whom are well-known figures in Indian cricket. Shastri clearly holds the edge over the former Indian opener, it all rests on the final call made by the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) comprising former legends — Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman.
According to sources, a section of officials within the Indian board want Shastri to succeed Anil Kumble as the head coach of the Indian team while some want Sehwag to take over. Shastri, initially hadn’t applied for the job but did so when the date for inviting applications was extended to July 9. After he threw his hat in the circle, he became an instant favourite to walk away with the top job as he enjoys the confidence and also shares a very cordial relationship with captain Virat Kohli.
Shastri during his stint with the Indian team as the Team Director enjoyed both success and failure in equal proportions. While the Indian team lost the Test series against Australia in the Down Under, they came back strongly to whitewash the same opponents in the shortest version of the game.
It was under him that the team had reached the 2015 World Cup semi-final riding on seven back to back victories on the trot. Against South Africa at home, the men in blue lost both the 50 and 20 over series but got the better of their opponents by beating them by a 3-0 margin in Tests. Under him, the team faced one of it’s most shocking series defeats against Bangladesh.
But what makes Shastri a favourite is his excellent man-management skills, and the very good rapport which he enjoys with skipper Kohli has made the latter to vote for him to be Kumble’s successor at the helm of affairs even though fan-favourite Sehwag stands a chance.
Also, former Australian cricketer Tom Moody has an outside chance of getting the top job. Moody, in the past had coached the Sri Lankan team when the island nation reached the finals of the 2007 World Cup. He has also a good amount of experience behind him in coaching teams in the shortest format as he was at the helm of affairs of the Sunrisers Hyderabad unit when they clinched their maiden IPL title.
Earlier it was learnt according to sources that the BCCI is thinking of doing away with the interview system so as to avoid the ugly incident that took place last year when Cricket Advisory Committee member and former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly got involved in a verbal spat with Shastri. Also, the Indian board as well as the CAC believe that the applications provided by the candidates are enough to speaking of their candidates are enough to speak of their credentials and hence the need for an interview reduces.
Instead the CAC would choose their candidate for the post and convey their choice to the Committee of Administrators. But it is still uncertain as to who would have the final say in the selection of India’s next coach.
Only Shastri and Sehwag would be present at the interview in Mumbai while Lalchand Rajput, Phil Simmons, Tom Moody and Richard Pybus would attend the same via video conferencing.
It would be indeed intriguing to see as to who walks away with one of the most important and toughest jobs in cricket. Will it be Shastri or Sehwag? Or will it be Tom Moody? Wait for few hours, you will get the answer.