Rs 7 crore a year: With India job, Ravi Shastri may become highest paid coach in cricket world

While the speculation of ‘who will be India’s next coach’ is picking up and many former India cricketers are being linked to the job, reports have surfaced that current team director - Ravi Shastri - will be handed the job after the Bangladesh series.

A report in Hindustan Times states that Shastri is set to become the highest paid coach in the world after the Bangladesh series with a Rs 7 crore-a-year-deal.

Duncan Fletcher’s contract expired after the 2015 World Cup and India have toured Bangladesh without a coach. But Shastri, who was retained as the director of cricket, for the Bangladesh series had given strong hint that he was ready to continue with the team even after the Bangladesh series by saying the he would double up and do the job of a coach if needed.

“We have got three coaches. I can double up and do the job of a coach if needed. There is no need of another head coach for the tour,” Shastri had said.

“When we come back, I will have a chat with the board. I don’t rule it out at all. I might be there a lot longer than you think,” he added.

Shastri was appointed the director of Indian cricket after India’s disastrous Test series on the England tour and his contract was extended till the 2015 World Cup. According to the Hindustan Times report, Shastri was paid RS 6 crore for his role as director. While Fletcher drew Rs 4.2 crore.

The Hindustan Times reported, “The board, source said, was planning to merge the role of team director and coach, appointing Shastri the head coach. Shastri will have a free run of team. On team’s performance, his word would be final. A plan to appoint a performance manager has been shelved, sources said.”

India Test captain Virat Kohli hasn’t shied away from praising the impact of Shastri on the team. “We would love to have him on board even if he is doing the same job right now,” Kohli hailed BCCI’s decision to retain Shastri as team director for Bangladesh tour in ESPNCricinfo Cricket Monthly.

“Just to have him around the group is a massive boost for us. To have him around the group in some way would be lovely. To have the head coach or who to have and what to do about is all part of the discussion when we sit down,” he had added.

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