Ravi Shastri, Kevin Pietersen trolled for ‘head coach’ tweet ahead of IND vs SL Test

Ahead of the first Test between Sri Lanka national cricket team and Indian cricket team, Ravi Shastri posted pictures of him sitting with skipper Virat Kohli, and one from the warm-up matches

Indian cricket team are taking on Sri Lanka in a three-match Test series, followed by a five-match ODI and a one-off T20I, in what is Ravi Shastri’s first assignment as head coach. While India is bound to start as favourites, there will be a lot of pressure on Shastri, who will have to fill in the shoes of Anil Kumble, who led the side in a terrific run at home. (SL vs IND first Test, Day 1 live scorecard | Live streaming)

One of the photographs Indian cricket team head coach Ravi Shastri (left) had tweeted, clicked during the warm-up match ahead of the Test series vs Sri Lanka national cricket team. (Twitter.com)

Ahead of the first Test, Shastri posted pictures of him sitting with skipper Virat Kohli, and one from the warm-up matches, with a caption that read: “Back to business with a great bunch #TeamIndia #SLvIND”.

Shastri has been at the helm of the team on previous occasions as well, the latest being that of a team director.

Kevin Pieterson replied to the tweet, stating: “Head coach again buddy?” and seemed to be unaware that while Shastri had accompanied the team on various tours, he had never done so in the capacity of a head coach.

Shastri didn’t reply, but Twitteratis did. And while they took a dig at Pieterson for not knowing the facts, they brutally trolled Shastri for taking over the role in the controversial manner, and Kohli for playing a part in it as well.

In 2016, the Cricket Advisory Committee, comprising former India cricketers Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Gnaguly and VVS Laxman, gave their nod to Kumble ahead of Shastri as the team’s head coach.

The decision led to a tussle between Shastri and Ganguly, whom the former slammed for playing a role in him not getting the post. Kumble was contracted till the end of the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy but speculations were rife that Kohli wanted Kumble out and Shastri to replace him.

The former leg-spinner unceremoniously stepped down from the post stating that the situation had become “untenable” for him to continue, although he was offered an extension till the end of the West Indies tour.

Once Kumble was out of the fray, Shastri applied and while there were others interviewed for the post as well, including former Indian cricket team opener Virender Sehwag, Shastri was named as the next coach in what seemed to be yet another controversial decision.

Ganguly, representing the CAC, had stated that they wanted to speak to the captain and wanted some time before announcing the name to ensure the captain and the coach are “on the same page”. However, the very next day, they were forced to let the opinions known and Shastri was named as the next coach .

Here are a few replies from the Twitteratis who slammed Shastri on the micro-blogging website.