Ravi Shastri re-appointed as India’s head coach

The Committee, headed by Kapil Dev, and including Anshuman Gaekwad and Shantha Rangaswamy, made the decision after interviewing the shortlisted candidates at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai on Friday.

Shastri, who started his previous tenure in July 2017, was considered the frontrunner to land a second stint. He had taken over the job from former India leg-spinner Anil Kumble, who stepped down in June 2017.

The 57-year old will preside over the role until the end of 2021 T20 World Cup.

[caption id=”attachment_117781″ align=”alignnone” width=”800″] Under Shastri, India won their first ever Test series in Australia[/caption]

Along with Shastri, the other shortlisted names included Mike Hesson, Tom Moody, Robin Singh, Phil Simmons and Lalchand Rajput. Simmons backed out of the race earlier in the day, citing personal reasons.

Shastri, who is currently with the Indian team on their tour to the Caribbean, was the last candidate to be interviewed, and gave his interview via Skype, as did Tom Moody. Mike Hesson, who coached New Zealand to the final of the 2015 World Cup, arrived in Mumbai and was interviewed in person.

The CAC reappoints Mr Ravi Shastri as the Head Coach of the Indian Cricket Team. pic.twitter.com/vLqgkyj7I2

— BCCI (@BCCI) August 16, 2019

Lalchand Rajput was the manager of the Indian team when they won the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007. Robin Singh, a former India all-rounder, was the fielding coach of the Indian team between 2007 and 2009.

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A former India all-rounder who played 80 Tests and 150 ODIs, Shastri had previously held the positions of India’s team manager for a brief spell in 2007, and team director between 2014 and 2016.

Under Shastri’s term, India claimed their first-ever Test series win in Australia, and climbed atop the ICC Test charts – they currently occupy the No.1 spot. They also won their first ever bilateral ODI series in South Africa.