The pair of Virat Kohli and former India head coach Ravi Shastri; did a marvelous job for Indian cricket and these two helped team India in reaching multiple achievements and win various tournaments.
During this period, Indian team won against formidable opponents not only in home conditions but also on foreign soil. Indian Test team defeated Australia twice in Australia and they are also leading 2-1 in the Test series against England as well. The last Test match of the series is scheduled to be played in July this year.
Praise for Shastri
And because of the achievements and multiple trophies, several experts and former cricketers have appreciated Shastri’s work as the head coach of the team. And now former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has also praised the former India team head coach.
In an exclusive conversation with Sports Tak, Akhtar said that “Indian cricket is indebted to Shastri.”
“Even Ravi Shastri won’t be there and Indian cricket didn’t give him his due credit. Indian cricket is indebted to Shastri and I don’t even know if they know this or not. He was a father to every player and he was the father figure to the players,” Akhtar told Sports Tak in a conversation during the Howzat Legends League Cricket, currently being played in Oman.
“He has done a great job, I don’t know what happened to his tenure, may be it got over but he was great. Best of luck to him and to Rahul Dravid. There no doubt on his credentials, there’s no doubt on his batting, his coaching but what matters is what he can do now. I am sure he will do something right but time will tell,” he added.
A suggestion
While talking about the latest captaincy saga that has taken place in Indian cricket, Akhtar asked why Indian cricket cannot think of making a “fast bowler as your captain?”
“Why don’t you (India) make a fast bowler as your captain. Kapil Dev was a captain for India in 1983. I don’t understand why I’m our part of the world it’s a perception that batsmen are smarter than bowlers. It’s not that batsmen are more offensive than batsmen, fast bowlers always go out there to win you matches.
“Our approach is very different. It’s time to take a new start, find out a fast bowler, who may or may not play all three formats because if someone like Bumrah plays all formats , it’s going to be very difficult for him,” Akhtar added.
