Ravi Shastri named as Indian cricket team coach after BCCI's three-member cricket advisory committee chose him as the top most post on Tuesday. Shastri shall be replacing Anil Kumble as Team India head coach. Shastri served as the Indian team's director from 2014 to 2016.
Ravi Shastri was one of India's premier all-rounders in the late 80s and 90s. In a career spanning for over a decade, the tall and lanky played 80 Test matches, amassing 3,830 runs and effecting 151 dismissals. He also donned the Indian jersey in 150 ODIs, scoring 3108 runs and scalping 129 wickets.
So here are ten fascinating facts about Team India's new coach Ravi Shastri
1. A left arm orthodox bowler turned into a versatile batsman
Ravi started off as an orthodox left-arm spinner and batted at number 10 in his early days in the Indian team. However, he made a remarkable development as a batsman and within 18 months of his Test debut, Shastri moved up to open the innings.
Ravi Shastri belonged to a family of sportsmen. His cousin sister Mridula Shastri, captained the Indian women team as a swimmer and water polo player.
Match winning performance in Ranji Trophy finals:
The 1984-85 Ranji trophy final between domestic powerhouse Mumbai and Delhi turned out to be an all time classic Indian domestic cricket history and Ravi left a career defining mark by picking up 8 for 91 to help Bombay win its 30th title in the 50th anniversary of Ranji Trophy.
Man of the Series in World Series of Cricket:
Ravi Shastri’s most notable career feat was being declared the Man of the series in the ‘Champions of Champions’ series played in Australia in 1985. India won all games convincingly and he was the star performer. He made 182 runs and took 8 wickets, and was chosen as the man of the series. He won an Audi 100 car for his efforts.
Six 6's in an over, equals Sir Gary Sobers’ unique feat:
Ravi Shastri created a unique record of sorts by becoming only the second batsman in first-class history to score six sixes in an over. He smashed Baroda left-arm spinner Tilak Raj for six sixes in an over. He was the second batsman to do so in competitive cricket after West Indian great Sir Garry Sobers.
The trademark ‘Chapati’ shot:
Standing at 6ft 3in, he played a limited variety of shots and one of his trademark “chapati shot” which was a flick off the pads.
7. UNICEF goodwill ambassador
Ravi Shastri was named national goodwill ambassador for UNICEF. Sachin Tendulkar is the other cricketer who has had the same honour.
Early retirement due to injury, Ravi Shastri was forced to retired at the age of 30 due to a recurring injury.
In 2008, he was the celebrity torchbearer during the Olympic Torch Relay in Oman.
In his youth, the very tall and good-looking Ravi Shastri was the poster-boy of Indian cricket.
