Sourav-Shastri Spar Over Coach's Appointment

Shastri termed Ganguly’s absence at the time of the former’s interview as “disrespectful” of the latter...

- Sreelata S.Yellamrazu

If anyone harboured doubts about the relevance of the position of the coach of the Indian cricket team, the clamour for the coveted position and the subsequent fallout following the appointment should have been a sufficient enough reminder. The manner in which two of India’s most illustrious former cricketers, Ravi Shastri and Sourav Ganguly, took their high handed ego clash to the streets, it went beyond bitter disappointment as the cupboard threatened to throw more skeletons out into the open.

There was never any doubt that the appointment of the Indian cricket team coach was no low profile affair. However, that matters would combust in such fashion was, also, something none could have anticipated. As the protagonists began to air dirty laundry and throw punches in the air, quickly and quietly sidelined were the facts that Anil Kumble, in charge of India’s coaching for a tenure of one year, would have a challenge on his hands as Virat Kohli and company faced the prospect of a seventeen Test season, unheard of in modern times of excessive Twenty20.

Ravi Shastri’s grouse could be attributed in plain terms to a case of sour grapes, but the manner in which he went about it, and unwittingly one might add, it left people wondering, was there more to this smoke filled, incendiary diatribe in front of the media? After all, Shastri is an accomplished television sports commentator as he was India’s all rounder. Was this then a calculated move or a mistimed jab?