Ravi Shastri won’t be a ‘headmaster’, wants India cricket team to have fun

Ravi Shastri was appointed chief coach of the Indian cricket team on Tuesday. He replaced Anil Kumble who refused to continue since Virat Kohli had ‘reservations’ against him

New India cricket coach Ravi Shastri plans to adopt a more hands-off approach to the role than his predecessor Anil Kumble, with the 55-year-old saying he has no intention of trying to act as a tutor to the players.

India captain Virat Kohli and newly-appointed head coach Ravi Shastri during a practice session at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on March 30, 2106. Shastri will take charge of the Indian cricket team from the upcoming series against Sri Lanka starting July 26. (Hindustan Times/Kunal Patil)

Anil Kumble stepped down last month citing a breakdown in his relationship with skipper Virat Kohli, who according to media reports, resented the former captain’s ‘headmasterly’ methods.

Ravi Shastri was handed the coaching reigns on Tuesday, a year after losing the job to Anil Kumble, and the former all-rounder promised a fresh outlook to the job.

“At the highest level, cricketers are more or less settled,” Shastri told the Times of India newspaper.

“So it is more to do with working on their mental strength, helping build their confidence, helping them stay organised in their daily activities as against tinkering with their style of play.

Ravi Shastri and Virat Kohli during a practice session. (AFP)

‘EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION’

“It’s not about ‘tutoring’ them about everything and telling them what and what not to do. There’s very little coaching at the highest level. It’s about fine-tuning and mentoring, about effective communication.”

Ravi Shastri, who has served as team director in the past, enjoys a good rapport with Virat Kohli and said he had no issues with players having more freedom off the field.

“Why should I change anyone’s style, or for that matter, why should anyone change his own style of doing things?

“As long as there’s a level of commitment, the hard yards are being put in and results are showing, why shouldn’t there be fun?”

The Indian cricket board (BCCI) has also named former seamer Zaheer Khan as the team’s bowling consultant, while Rahul Dravid was appointed as batting consultant for overseas Test series.

The first challenge for the new coaching set-up will begin later this month when India tour Sri Lanka for three Tests, five one-dayers and a sole Twenty20 international.