Shastri has been terrific as team director: Dravid

Batting legend Rahul Dravid has given a thumbs up to Ravi Shastri and said the current Indian cricket team director has done a terrific job in his role so far.

According to latest media reports, Shastri will be announced as the new head coach after the conclusion of the team's tour of Bangladesh where they are playing a Test and three One-Day Internationals (ODI) against the hosts. The post of head coach has been vacant ever since Zimbabwean Duncan Fletcher's contract expired at the end of the World Cup where India lost in the semi-finals.

"I am not going to react to a media report but Ravi has done a really good job with the team and if he is going to join the team on a full-time basis that will be good for the side," Dravid told IANS in a telephonic interview from P&G Shiksha School in Bengaluru, a Corporate Social Responsiblity (CSR) programme he supports.

"He has definitely been terrific in his role as the team director. He has vast experience, has been involved in the sport, knows about the modern game and is also in touch with the players, who also like his presence in the dressing room."

About Virat Kohli, the former India captain said that people need to be patient with the new Test skipper.

"People need to be patient with Kohli. People started asking about how Kohli will be as a captain even before he became a skipper. People need to give him time. He will grow as a captain. He is going to make good decisions, he will be making mistakes and that is how he will grow in his role as a captain," said the 42-year-old.

Though India has done well lately in limited overs cricket, their performance in the longer version of the game, especially overseas, has been quite dismal.

Asked if more focus should be put on overseas Test matches, Dravid replied: "The focus should be on winning, whatever they are playing at present, at this point of time. Of course, the focus should also be on overseas cricket. The bottom line is that you have got to win.

"This current team is in a transitional phase but they will come out good eventually. It is part and parcel of the game. Just like we were in 1999-2000 when we were not winning, we kept on improving and did well eventually. The current lot have got to put in performances. Expect this team to also do the same," concluded the newly-appointed India A and India Under-19 coach.

(Sandip Sikdar can be contacted at sandip.s@ians.in)