Ravi Shastri

Ravi Shastri among 11 honoured with SJAM Lifetime Achievement Award

Former India cricketer and head coach Ravi Shastri was among 11 sportspersons who were honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Sports Journalists Association of Mumbai here on Wednesday. The others included former India women's cricketer Shubhangi Kulkarni, three-time Amateur World Champion in English billiards Michael Ferreira, Niraj Bajaj (table tennis), GM Pravin Thipsay (chess), shooters Anjali Bhagwat, Suma Shirur and Deepali Deshpande. Hockey Olympians Mervyn Fernandes and Joaquim Carvalho as well as former national badminton champion and national team captain Sanjay Sharma were also honoured with the award. While Shastri was not present at the event ceremony here at the Bombay Gymkhana, his mother Lakshmi shared the memories of his playing days including the feat of hitting six sixes in an over in a domestic match. Shastri had emulated the feat of West Indies legend Gary Sobers in hitting six sixes in an over off Tilak Raj, during a Ranji Trophy match against Bar

Jasprit Bumrah should play only four Tests vs England, says Ravi Shastri

Bumrah, who recently returned to action in the IPL for Mumbai Indians following a lengthy layoff due to a back injury, is expected to spearhead India's bowling attack in England

Champions Trophy: Ravi Shastri ranks Pakistan as one of the favourites

Ponting believes Babar and Rizwan will be key for Pakistan in the absence of Saim Ayub

Ravi Shastri's golden advice for Rohit and Virat to rediscover form

Shastri's suggestion aligns with head coach Gautam Gambhir's stance, who believes that players should be available to play domestic cricket if they are committed to red-ball cricket.

Shastri and Ponting question BCCI about Shami's exclusion from 2024-25 BGT

Ponting believes that the pacer has the potential to turn the tide in India's favour from tough situations

End of Rohit's Test career? Shastri, Gavaskar believe MCG was his last Test

Sunil Gavaskar said: "I think it probably means that if India don't qualify for the World Test Championship (WTC) final, the Melbourne Test will be Rohit Sharma's last game."

IND vs AUS: Ravi Shastri questions Rohit's future in team, backs Kohli

Former Indian coach Ravi Shastri believes it's high time for Rohit Sharma to start thinking about what his role in the team should be going forward in future

IND vs AUS: Ravi Shastri compares debutant Sam Konstas with Virender Sehwag

The 19-year-old Sam Konstas played a brilliant 60-run innings in just 65 balls on his debut against India at Melbourne Cricket Ground

IND vs AUS: Ravi Shastri backs India to win the Boxing Day Test at MCG

Former coach Ravi Shastri has backed India to win the Boxing Day Test, saying the visitors have exploited Australia's "brittle" top order to have their "nose ahead" in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Shastri added that Indian pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah is "almost single-handedly" responsible for the visitors keeping the series levelled at 1-1. "I think India would take this, the way the series is poised. Any overseas team being 1-1, especially with the games being in Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane, they would take this. "Going 1-1 into Boxing Day is the best case scenario. I would say India have their nose ahead," Shastri told news.com.au. Australia's top order comprising Usman Khawaja, Nathan McSweeney and Marnus Labuschagne have been unable to score against Bumrah. it has have forced them to hand a debut to teenage sensation Sam Konstas while dropping rookie opener Nathan McSweeney. "It's been pretty brittle. When you look at this Australian line-up, it's been a long time since I'

Virat Kohli and Steve Smith will be dangerous and hungry: Ravi Shastri

They may not have been at their dominant best so far but Virat Kohli and Steve Smith will be "dangerous" and "hungry" for runs in the remaining two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, feels former India head coach Ravi Shastri. Part of the celebrated 'Fab Four' that also comprises Joe Root and Kane Williamson, both Kohli and Smith have endured struggles with the bat in recent times, though they have scored a century each in the first three Tests of the five-match series. "I think they (Kohli and Smith) will have slipped down the ranks on current form because you know you've got the likes of Root taking off, there's Williamson doing well, Harry Brook has come onto the scene, you know there are a lot of other young players pushing but these are class players," Shastri said in the ICC Review. "In a situation like this, you know they'll be dangerous because they'll be hungry." Smith's scores read 0, 17, 2, 101, and 4 in five innings, while Kohli has managed 126 runs at an average of .

IND vs AUS: Shastri believes Adelaide 2020 debacle won't affect India

The Adelaide debacle of 2020 is history now but it should be at the back of players' minds when they take field in the day/night Test against Australia, reckons Ravi Shastri, who was India's coach in that series. India, under Virat Kohli, were shot out for their lowest-ever Test total of 36 in the second innings of the Adelaide Test that Australia won by eight wickets. Bruised and battered, and with hardly anyone giving them a revival chance, India staged a remarkable comeback to win the four-Test series 2-1 to clinch the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. "I don't think it (Adelaide drubbing) will play any role but it should be at the back of their mind because you know things happen very quickly with a pink ball," Shastri, who was the coach of the India team during the series, told The ICC Review. A 1-0 lead in pocket, India will clash with the hosts in the second Test, starting Friday. "You realise that in a session of play if things don't go your way and the bowling is good, things can

Kohli's masterclass sets up series, worries Australia: Ravi Shastri

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri on Sunday said Virat Kohli's remarkable hundred is an "ominous" sign for Australia, and said no touring player in the last 15 years might not have produced such knocks more regularly than the batting star. Kohli brought all his technical expertise into play to score the 30th hundred on the third day of the first Test against Australia here, despite struggling for form in the run-up to the five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy. This was 36-year-old Kohli's seventh century in Australia, the most by an Indian with one ahead of the legendary Sachin Tendulkar (6). Kohli's last century before this was the 121 against the West Indies at Port of Spain in July 2023, and since then 15 innings have passed without a three-figure mark. "Seven hundreds in Australia. The big stage, the big ground. One of the bounciest pitches in the world. I doubt an overseas player in the last 15 years has come to Australia and played in this fashion, Shastri said on Fox Cricket

Sachin Tendulkar to Dravid: Top five knocks by Indian batters in Australia

The God of cricket, Sachin Tendulkar, holds the record for India's highest Test score in Australia with a brilliant 241 not out innings in 2004

IND vs AUS: Stay calm, avoid knee-jerk reactions - Shastri's advice to GG

Ravi Shastri guided India to back-to-back series wins in Australia and his short advice to current head coach Gautam Gambhir is to "stay calm" over the course of five Tests Down Under and avoid knee-jerk reactions. Known for his aggressive temperament, Gambhir has been recently labelled "prickly" by a few former Australian cricketers as he faces his biggest challenge since taking charge in July. "The first thing would be to stay calm and not let outside elements influence you in any way," Shastri advised Gambhir while talking to media in the Star Sports press room. "Avoid getting into positions where knee-jerk reactions happen. Stay calm and focus on understanding your players. You'll notice what it takes for a player to thrive." Shastri said the key to success lies in understanding players and empowering them in match situations. "You'll understand team situations where a certain player might be better suited than another, based on your understanding of their temperament. "These

AUS vs IND Tests: King is back in his territory, says Shastri backs Kohli

Former India cricket coach Ravi Shastri believes Virat Kohli has the potential to turn around his poor form and prosper during the upcoming five-Test Border-Gavaskar series in Australia. Kohli has been going through a rough run across all formats over the last few months. The 36-year-old star batter has scored just one half-century and averaged only 21.33 across five Test matches against Bangladesh and New Zealand since the start of the year. But Shastri has warned Australia and said Kohli is back in the country where he loves to bat and score runs. "Well, the King is back in his territory. That's all I will tell them," Shastri said on The ICC Review. "When you've earned that title after your exploits in Australia, it will be on your (opponent's) mind when you go out to bat." Shastri was referring to Kohli's phenomenal performances in Australia, which include a fighting century in Adelaide in his first-ever Test tour in 2011/12, a staggering 692 runs from four Tests during the 201

Ravi Shastri belives India can complete hat-trick of Test series win in AUS

India is capable of a hat-trick of Test series triumphs in Australia given the quality of its bowlers and the strong batting lineup that has the likes of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, feels former head coach Ravi Shastri. India have won the last two Test series in Australia and have held onto the prestigious Border-Gavaskar Trophy since the Kangaroos claimed a 2-0 series victory on home soil at the beginning of 2015. "With (Jasprit) Bumrah fit, (Mohammed) Shami fit, you've got Mohammed Siraj there. You've got the likes of (Ravinchandran) Ashwin and (Ravindra) Jadeja and some very good bench strength as well... One can't wait for that series to start and (I think) India can do the hat-trick (of series victories in Australia)," Shastri told ICC. Australia legend Ricky Ponting had recently predicted a 3-1 series win for his country but Shastri said that Indian bowlers can get the job done provided their batters are up to the challenge. "It is going to be one heck of a series and India

Shastri to Karthik: Full list of commentators for T20 World Cup 2024

Making his World Cup debut, American commentator James O'Brien better known as Jomboy will aim to add context to the games for American audiences

'Hope he is not finished': Coach Rahul Dravid on R Ashwin's retirement

Rahul Dravid hopes that he doesn't call it quits anytime soon. Ravi Shastri would like to see him harass batters for at least two more years while Anil Kumble finds it perplexing that he isn't a regular in India's overseas fixtures. If ever Ravichandran Ashwin needed validation for being a rare talent, three national coaches -- one current and two former -- provided it heartily on the same evening, at the same platform and almost at the same time. "I hope he is not finished. He has moved the craft of spin bowling through his hard work, dedication and innovation. That's a great legacy to have. Fantastic! Well done and inspired a whole generation of young spinners," Dravid said during a felicitation function organised by the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) to celebrate Ashwin crossing the 500-wicket mark and completing 100 Tests. "He always has the desire to contribute to the team's success. Have really enjoyed my time with him," 'The Wall' added. What stands out for Dravid is

BCCI central contract: Shastri backs Iyer, Kishan to come back stronger

Former India coach Ravi Shastri on Wednesday backed the duo of Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan to come back stronger after they were excluded from the BCCI central contracts for ignoring the board's directive of playing in the Ranji Trophy. The BCCI Wednesday unveiled its centrally-contracted players for this year. While skipper Rohit Sharma, star batter Virat Kohli, pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah and premier all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja retained their places in the top bracket, Iyer and Kishan were not considered in any category. "In the game of cricket, comebacks define the spirit. Chin-up, @ShreyasIyer15 and @ishankishan51! Dig deep, face challenges, and come back even stronger. Your past achievements speak volumes, and I have no doubt you'll conquer once again," Shastri tweeted. The 25-year-old Kishan did not turn up for Jharkhand throughout the team's campaign in Ranji Trophy despite not being on national duty since leaving from the tour of South Africa in December last, citing ..

Bumrah was dubbed as white-ball specialist without even asking him: Shastri

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri always knew that Jasprit Bumrah was "desperate and hungry" to play Test cricket as the pace sensation didn't ever liked being stereotyped as a "white-ball specialist". Bumrah is the first Indian pacer to be ranked No. 1 in the ICC Test rankings. The 30-year-old's pace prowess was on full display as he claimed a remarkable match haul of 9/91, playing a pivotal role in India's series-levelling victory in the Vizag Test. In the process, he also became the fastest Indian to 150 Test wickets. In an interview to former England skipper Michael Atherton, who writes for 'The Times', Shastri remembered his conversation with Bumrah where the pacer had told him playing Test would be the "biggest day" of his life. "I remember my first call to him, it was in Kolkata. I asked him would he be interested in Test cricket. He said that would be the biggest day of his life," Shastri recalled. "He was labelled as a white-ball cricketer without asking him. But I kn