Shastri wants Arun to be bowling coach

I did not have the foggiest idea of whether there was any dissonance between the coach and the team in the dressing room.

The decision to name Arun for the post came after the BCCI’s newly-formed committee, which included acting president CK Khanna and acting secretary Amitabh Chaudhary, along with former India player Diana Edulji, who is a member of the Committee of Administrators (CoA), and board CEO Rahul Johri, had a meeting with Shastri in Mumbai on Tuesday.

“It feels great to be back in the Indian scheme of things and work again with the likes of (Ravi) Shastri, (Sanjay) Bangar and (R) Sridhar”.

India will play three test matches, five ODIs and a Twenty20 in Sri Lanka with the first test starting on July 26. According to PTI, quoting highly-placed sources, Ganguly had reservations about Shastri’s appointment but was finally convinced by Tendulkar, who wanted the team’s wish to be respected.

Yes, the hunt of India’s new head coach was indeed one of the poorly-managed episodes in the history of Indian cricket. And by the time they were told, it was “late” and they were left with just one choice: to put in place a process to pick a new coach.

Now that Kohli and Shastri have come together again, the performances will be further scrutinised. He has a track record of 15 years in coaching and its outstanding. Arun has had an influence in the Indian team as well and has nurtured young talent.

“That tour was a landmark tour for us because if you look at the average age, that tour for us was the start and we do have the culture to win away from home”.

“You look at the last (2015) World Cup”.

Shastri is going to earn Rs 7.5 crore – Rs 1.25 crore more than his predecessor Anil Kumble.

With the BCCI having invited applications for a full-time team manager, there was a question on whether an appointment would be made for the Sri Lanka tour.

India’s preparation has been less than ideal this time, too, with head coach Anil Kumble stepping down last month citing a breakdown in his relationship with skipper Kohli. I don’t come in with any baggage.

Of course, there have been controversial coaches-Greg Chappell the most notable among them-but never has the process of picking a coach played out like the soap opera we’re now witnessing. He wants the BCCI to compensate him if it also means a pay cut. “So I don’t think it will require any effort to understand (the coach) as we have worked earlier also”, the 28-year-old added.

Kumble described his partnership with Kohli as “untenable” before stepping down last month after the Champions Trophy. While Kohli’s words on his partnership with Shastri provide positive vibes for Indian cricket, Shastri stressed on the importance of helping the players have an uncluttered mind.

“When you play the game you want your mind clear”.