Former team director Ravi Shastri applies for India head coach's post

New Delhi: Former Team India Director Ravi Shastri on Monday applied for the chief coach’s post of the Indian cricket team, staking strong claims of returning at the helm. Shastri told PTI that he has submitted his application for the post. The former India captain had worked with the team for 18 months as its director. His contract ended at the conclusion of ICC World T20. [caption id=“attachment_2819858” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Ravis Shastri has served as India team director before. AFP[/caption] “Yes, I have applied for the chief coach’s post today morning. I have emailed all the requisite documents that was asked for in the advertisement,” Shastri said. Asked if he has prepared any presentation or roadmap, the veteran of 80 Test matches said: “Whatever is required by the BCCI, I have provided them. If you ask me whether I am confident or not, all I can say is that my job was to apply for the post and I have done that. I cannot comment on anything else.” Shastri had earlier said in an interview that he considered the “18 months with the Indian team as his most memorable experience” in his three-decade long association with the Indian cricket in various capacities. During his tenure as Team Director, the notable achievements have been a 3-0 T20 whitewash of Australia, ODI series win in England, away Test series win against Sri Lanka after 22 years, Test series win against South Africa at home, apart from the semi-final finishes in the 50-over and T20 World Cups. Shastri is the biggest name that has so far applied for the coveted post apart from current chairman of selectors and another former coach Sandeep Patil, who has also thrown his hat in the ring. Patil’s last stint with the Indian team was a disastrous one in which he was in charge for less than one year after Ajit Wadekar quit post the forgettable 1996 World Cup semi-final defeat to Sri Lanka. However, Shastri’s team of support staff - Sanjay Bangar, R Sridhar and Bharat Arun - have not yet applied as BCCI sources believe that they would like to continue in their earlier roles depending on the requirements of the Board.