India coach saga: Ravi Shastri wins, Sourav Ganguly does not lose

The hate-hate relationship between Ravi Shastri and Sourav Ganguly has refused to die down even a year after the latter replaced the former with Anil Kumble as chief coach of India.

On Tuesday, even as Shastri was appointed chief coach of Team India, there was a lot of hectic lobbying for the appointment of support staff. Though Ganguly lost on the first count, he managed to get his close confidant and former speedster Zaheer Khan as team's bowling consultant.

What took many by surprise is the last-minute addition of another former skipper and current coach of Under-19 national team, Rahul Dravid, as batting consultant for Test matches on overseas tours.

Dravid's role may prove to be crucial as India is slated to play mostly away matches in the next 20 months.

The responsibility of selecting coach for the Indian team falls on the Cricket Advisory Committee which comprises of Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman. On Monday, the panel interviewed five applicants — Shastri, Virender Sehwag, Tom Moody, Richard Pybus and Lalchand Rajput.

Shastri may have won this time but Ganguly has not lost everything. DNA has reliably learnt that both were engaged in a heated debate during the course of interview in Mumbai on Monday. Ganguly is said to have told Shastri (who was on Skype) that even if he gets the job, he may not get his choice of support staff — obviously referring to pushing Khan's name for the bowling consultant.

While Shastri was clear in his choice of going with tried and tested Bharat Arun, who was in his team during his last stint as team director.

Shastri's case became stronger as he had the backing of captain Virat Kohli in this regard. The skipper is said to have conveyed that he has no objection if Khan is hired as a consultant for shorter durations, than be with the team on full-time basis.

And this is said to be the reason why Ganguly announced that coach selection has been put on hold till the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) has a last meeting with Kohli on his return from US.

But it was Committee OF Administrators (COA) chief Vinod Rai, who called Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) CEO Rahul Johri on Tuesday morning to convey his decision to top officials that "he wants coach name to be out by evening".

"Whosoever be the coach, he should stay till 2019 World Cup," was the clear view of the top BCCI brass.

Ganguly kept everyone on tenter-hooks with his dilly-dallying tactics till late on Tuesday evening. It was only after a consensus was reached on Zaheer's name that Ganguly called up acting secretary to convey his decision.

"This has got personal, for sure," a senior BCCI official told DNA when asked why there is a delay in naming next coach.

Dravid has apparently been roped in for two reasons. One, he is close to outgoing chief coach Anil Kumble. Two, the average batting performances of young Team India batsmen have made the CAC and BCCI to think hard on "giving special attention on young batsmen by keeping 2019 World Cup build up in mind".

Ganguly is said to have been in favour of former India opener Virender Sehwag to take over as the next chief coach. However, it was Sachin Tendulkar who reportedly convinced Shastri during the course of the Champions Trophy in London to apply for this job.

Despite Ganguly-Shastri known hatred, it was Kohli's vote that mattered most in the final outcome. Kohli had spoken about his wish to see Shastri as the coach then. Shastri also enjoys the confidence of almost all the young brigade of Team India.

"Shastri gives the Indian players the much-needed freedom. It is his man-management skills which matters," said an insider.

India under Shastri

Tests 
Played: 12, Won: 5, Lost 3, Drew: 4
Lost to Australia 0-2 in Australia, 2014-15
Drew one-off Test in 
Bangladesh, 2015
Beat Sri Lanka 2-1 in Sri Lanka, 2015
Beat South Africa 3-0 in India, 2015-16

ODIs 
Played: 37, Won: 21, Lost 15, No Result: 1
Beat England 3-1 in England, 2014
Beat West Indies 2-1 in India, 2014-15
Beat Sri Lanka 5-0 in India, 2014-15
Didn’t go beyond league stage in 2014-15 Aus tri-series
Semifinalists of 2015 World Cup in Aus-New Zealand
Lost 1-2 to Bangladesh in Bangladesh, 2015
Lost 2-3 to South Africa in India, 2015-16
Lost 1-4 to Australia in Australia, 2015-16

T20Is 
Played: 19, Won: 13, Lost 6
Lost one-off T20 in England, 2014
Lost 0-2 to SA in India, 2015-16
Beat Australia 3-0 in Australia, 2015-16
Beat Sri Lanka 2-1 in India, 2015-16
India lifted Asia Cup in Bangladesh, 2015-16
India semifinalists in 2016 ICC World T20