Page 2 - Ravi Shastri

'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

BCCI Awards: Shastri, Engineer honoured with Lifetime Achievement Award

Former India captain and head coach Ravi Shastri said on Tuesday that it was a touching moment for him to get bestowed with the Col CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award. In a glittering ceremony here, the BCCI awarded a host of top men's and women's performers from the 2019-20 season. Former India wicketkeeper Farokh Engineer too was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Shastri was part of India's World Cup winning squad in 1983 and was the Player of the Series when they bagged the World Series in 1985. Later as a coach, Shastri masterminded India's back-to-back Test series wins in Australia, the first Asian side to achieve the feat. Shastri said it was an emotional moment for him. It certainly is (an emotional moment). Ladies and gentleman thanks for coming and I thank the BCCI for bestowing this honour on me. It's four decades in the game, you have not missed a beat and you have been involved with Indian cricket right through. "It is a very touching moment for me becau

BCCI Awards 2023: Gill named cricketer of the year, Shastri recognised

Former India all-rounder and head coach Ravi Shastri will be honoured with BCCI's Lifetime Achievement Award here on Tuesday. Shubman Gill will be presented with Cricketer of the Year award following a memorable 12 months when he became the fastest to cross the 2000-run mark in ODIs and also scored five hundreds in the format. "He (Shastri) has been chosen for the honour while Gill will be awarded the cricketer of the year," said a BCCI official. The BCCI awards will be held for the first time since 2019 and both India and England teams are expected to be in attendance ahead of the first Test beginning here on Thursday. Shastri, 61, represented India in 80 Tests and 150 ODIs. After retirement, he made a name for himself in the broadcasting world. He also donned the coaching hat twice for the national team, first as a team director from 2014 to 2016 before returning to the team as head coach with captain Virat Kohli until the T20 World Cup in 2021. The highlight of his tenure was

World Cup 2023 Final: Ravi Shastri's mantra for Team India against Aussies

India will be overwhelming favourites in the upcoming World Cup final against Australia, the team's former head coach Ravi Shastri said on Friday while urging the hosts to stick to their game plans. On the sidelines of an event in the city, Shastri spoke on India's approach in the title clash saying they do not need to do anything different. "I think they will be relaxed. They are playing at home, and it's a very experienced side. And they don't need to do anything different. "The way they have played.... it will be around the way they had left in the last game. They should be holding that cup very soon. "India will win the World Cup. They will start as favourites in the final. They have played outstandingly well," Shastri said. Despite having beaten Australia in the league stage, India will be under pressure against the five-time world champions, who have a great record in ICC finals. But Shastri believes that if the Men in Blue are able to stay calm and soak in the pressure, th

If India fail to win 2023 World Cup, then..: Shastri makes huge prediction

India will probably have to wait for another three World Cups to have a shot at the title if they are not able to extend their dominant run in the ongoing edition, reckons Ravi Shastri. Speaking to Club Prairie Fire podcast, Shastri said a majority of the squad members are at their peak, providing India the best chance to end their ICC title drought. Adam Gilchrist and Michael Vaughan were also part of the podcast. "This country is going mad. The last time they won it was 12 years ago. They have an opportunity to do it again. The way they are playing, this is probably their best chance," said the former India head coach. "If they miss out this time, they would probably have to wait another three World Cups for even thinking of trying to win it. The pool of players are such the 7-8 players are at their peak. "This could well be their last World Cup. The way they are playing, given the conditions, they have got the team to win it." The Indian bowling attack has demolished batters t

'Sau baari...': Here's what Babar Azam said on Hyderabadi Biryani

World Cup 2023: India will clash with Pakistan in a much-awaited match on October 14 at the Narendra Modi Stadium

Asia Cup, IND vs PAK: Rohit has strongest Indian side since 2011- Shastri

A seasoned leader like Rohit Sharma understands the "terrain" of an Indo-Pak contest better than most but Babar Azam's unit won't be mere pushovers as it has managed to narrow the gap with the arch-rivals in the past few years, said former India head coach Ravi Shastri. India and Pakistan will be meeting in an ODI game after four years when they face-off on Saturday. "I would say India start as favourites. This is their strongest team since 2011, this mix of players. And a captain who is seasoned, who understands the terrain better than most,' Shastri told ESPN Cricinfo on Friday. "Having said that, Pakistan have narrowed the gap. Seven-eight years (ago), there was a gap if you looked at the strength of both teams and man to man. But Pakistan have narrowed it down. They are a very good side, so you have to be on top of your game." While Indian teams during the last two decades have dominated the proceedings against the cross-border nation, the former head coach wants players not to

World Cup: Shastri, Sandeep Patil back Tilak Varma for Indian middle-order

Former stars Ravi Shastri and Sandeep Patil on Friday batted for the inclusion of the talented Tilak Varma in India's middle-order for the upcoming ICC ODI World Cup 2023. The mega event will be held in India from October 5 to November 19. Shastri said the 20-year-old Varma is at an advantageous position because he is a left-hander. Speaking on Star Sports, Shastri said, "I'm very impressed with Tilak Varma. Very, very impressed. And I want a left-hander. So, if I'm looking for a left-hander in the middle order, like Yuvraj Singh and before that was Suresh Raina at five, I would really look in that direction (of Varma). "Sandy (Sandip) and MSK (Prasad) have been selectors, and if I was a selector along with my panel, I would be looking at that current form, looking at how he's getting his runs. "So, when I look at the way he has got his runs over the last three months, whether it was for Mumbai Indians, for India, whether it was handling pressure, opposition, or different situatio

World Cup: Ravi Shastri bats for three left-handers in India's middle-order

Former head coach Ravi Shastri feels three left-hand batters in the top seven will bolster India's middle-order ahead of the Asia Cup and subsequent ODI World Cup at home. Shastri said India can have two more left-handed batters alongside all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja. "There are three other positions where I think two left-handers have to come in. Now, this is where the selectors' role comes in because they are watching. They know who's the guy who's hot. If Tilak Varma is hot, bring him in. If you think (Yashasvi) Jaiswal is hot, bring him in," Shastri told Star Sports. Two right-handers, K L Rahul and Shreyas Iyer, are expected to make a comeback from injury in the Asia Cup beginning August 31, making it tougher for the management to include three left-handers in the playing eleven. Shastri also backed Ishan Kishan to come good. "If you have persisted with Ishan Kishan for the last six to eight months, and he's going to keep wickets, he comes in, in any case. But, get two ...

Playing K L Rahul in Asia Cup would be asking for too much: Ravi Shastri

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri would not include K L Rahul in the playing eleven for the Asia Cup as it would be asking for "too much" from a player who has not played competitive cricket for close to four months. Both Rahul and Shreyas Iyer, who are undergoing injury rehabilitation at the NCA in Bengaluru, are expected to regain full fitness before the Asia Cup starting August 31. "When you are talking of a player who has not played and is recovering from injury. To think of him in the playing eleven of Asia Cup, you are asking little too much of the player himself. "And then you are talking keeping when the guy has come from a knee injury, the range of movement, things like (that). That is a no, no straight," Shastri told Star Sports in a panel discussion referring to Rahul. He also warned against rushing back players from injuries. "You can't rush players back from injuries. You did that with Jasprit Bumrah, not once, twice but thrice and he has been out for 14 months ...

IPL and star culture aren't the problems for India's trophy-less decade

The major problem that the Indian team is dealing with is the tight scheduling of important matches in proximity to IPL. Along with that, handling the pressure of the final is also a major issue

WTC Final: You've got to miss IPL for 20 days of preparation, says Shastri

After India's World Test Championship loss to Australia, India's former head coach Ravi Shastri responded to Indian captain Rohit Sharma's statement about needing "20-25 days to prepare"

WTC Final: India lacked positive mindset by opting to field says Shastri

Disappointed by India's defensive approach, former head coach Ravi Shastri has said Rohit Sharma did not show a "positive mindset" by electing to bowl in the World Test Championship final against Australia here. India left out veteran offspinner Ravichandran Ashwin and preferred a four-pronged pace attack to go with left-arm spin bowling allrounder Ravindra Jadeja as they chose to bowl under overcast conditions. The decision backfired as Steve Smith (95 batting) and Travis Head (146 batting) shared an unbroken 251-run partnership to put Australia in a commanding 327/3 heading into day two. "From what came out today, the mindset was to field if they won the toss, hence the choices in the bowling department -- four seamers one spinner," Shastri told ICC after the end of the opening day's play on Wednesday. "If the mindset was positive you'd want to bat, rough it out in the first session and see if you can put 250 on board. Don't think too big 250-260 and if the conditions got better

Emotional homecoming for Hardik Pandya at Wankhede, says Ravi Shastri

Hardik Pandya played for the Mumbai Indians in the IPL from 2015 to 2021. Pandya has helped Mumbai Indians win four titles during this period

Moment Iyer was injured, you had to look in Rahane's direction: Shastri

Former head coach Ravi Shastri feels that Ajinkya Rahane was a certainty to make the Indian squad for the World Test Championship final against Australia once Shreyas Iyer was ruled out due to lower-back stress fracture. The WTC final will be played at the Oval in London from June 7-11. Shastri, who coached the Indian team for six out of seven years between 2014 to 2021, sarcastically commented that people who presumed that the former India captain made it to the Test team on basis of three IPL knocks, "must have been on holiday when he scored 600 plus runs in domestic cricket." "I'm so glad he's made it to the side. He batted beautifully in these two-three games he's played in the IPL, has looked in great touch. And let's not forget the experience he has. The moment Shreyas Iyer was injured, you had to look in that direction," Shastri told ESPN Cricinfo. Rahane's pedigree is such that he always had a shot, considering his contribution as a skipper to one of India's greatest Test .

Some players have become permanent residents of NCA: Ravi Shastri

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has hit out at injury management of some of country's premier bowlers, who he feels have made the National Cricket Academy (NCA), their permanent residency. While Shastri didn't take any name, his obvious reference was Chennai Super Kings seamer Deepak Chahar, who has broken down at least thrice in match situations in the last eight months after being declared fit by Nitin Patel-headed Sports Science & Medical team at NCA. "Let's put it this way: there are quite a few in the last three or four years who are permanent residents of the NCA. Soon, they'll get a resident permit there to walk in any time they want, which is not a good thing at all. It's unreal," Shastri said sarcastically on ESPN Cricinfo's digital video. Chahar is struggling due to recurrence of his left hamstring injury while tearaway quicks Jasprit Bumrah and Prasidh Krishna have undergone surgeries in New Zealand for lower back stress fracture. Shastri, who was India's head ...

India can bolster batting if Rahul keeps wickets in WTC final: Shastri

Former India coach Ravi Shastri has backed KL Rahul to seal his place as a wicketkeeper-batter for the World Test Championship final at The Oval in June, saying his presence will strengthen the team's batting lineup. Rahul has a good record in England but he was dropped from the playing XI after the first two Tests against Australia at home due to poor form. The 30-year-old from Karnataka, however, made an impressive return, slamming a match-winning 75 not out in the first ODI against Australia in Mumbai on Friday night. Shastri feels Rahul can play as a wicket-keeper in the WTC final, especially after KS Bharat couldn't produce the goods in the absence of an indisposed Rishabh Pant. "He (KL) has really done well to keep the selectors interested ahead of the WTC final," Shastri told Star Sports. "Two things, one for the ODI series when Rohit Sharma returns and the other for the WTC final... India can bolster their batting if Rahul can keep wickets. "Rahul can bat in the middle-or

This is what a little complacency, overconfidence can do: Ravi Shastri

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has slammed Rohit Sharma & Co for their nine-wicket loss to Australia in the third Test at Indore, pointing out that the defeat came due to a little bit of complacency and overconfidence.