Ravishankar Jayadritha Shastri

Awards & Achievements

• Honoured with the Arjuna Award in 1984 for his commendable contribution in cricket
• Hit six sixes in an over during one of his Ranji matches in 1985
• Won the ITA (Indian Television Award) for the Best Anchor Commentator in the year 2004
• Counted amongst the cricketers who have won the Player of the Series in the 1985 Cricket World Championship, where he was awarded an Audi 100 car
• As the Head Coach of the Indian Cricket Team, Ravi has led the team to the first spot in the Test rankings and also guided the team to dominate overseas matches.

The Indian Cricket Team is touching new heights of success in each of its spring. Of course, the performers perform well only when their root is deep and robust, and this is what required in every sport. Talking about the Men in Blue and their recent victories in Tests and ODIs; we all know the reason! Don't you? Well, players do well only when they get the right coaching, and Ravi Shastri proved to be the answer to all the questions. A strong batsman, daring leader, affluent anchor, commendable commentator and of course, a much deserving coach. The pin-up boy of his generation has aided the national squad many times especially during the first-ever World Cup victory in 1983 although his efforts remained unsung as a player, but talent has no bar to success, and sooner or later the world realised it when he donned the coaching cap. 

Early Life

It all began in Mumbai when a Mangalorean descent Shastri family was blessed with a baby boy who has been named Ravishankar Jayadritha Shastri. Although the in-house environment was much more academic; Ravi was more into sports, especially cricket. While studying at the Don Bosco High School, Ravi participated in the school team and made the phase victorious for the whole school with his batting knacks. Under the tutelage of Tatas and Dadar former union player, BD Desai; Shastri polished his potentials. Later on, he switched to R.A. Podar College to pursue commerce where he got more opportunities for sharpening his skills. In his early days with the bat and stumps; VS Patil and Vasant Amladi have immensely guided Shastri.

Cricket Debut

At 17; Shastri got enrolled in the Bombay Ranji Team. In 1979, Ravi played impressively in the Ranji Trophy finals, taking 6 wickets with 61 runs in the first innings and became the crowd favourite. When he was 19, he got the opportunity to be a part of the U-19 team which was scheduled to tour Pakistan in 1980; being called at the eleventh hour.   

Career Peaks

After an unpredictable injury of the leading spinner Dilip Doshi, the authorities decided to include Ravi in the national squad for the New Zealand Tour. The left-arm spinner played hard and within two years, became the opening batsman of the team. After the victorious performance of 1983 World Cup; the cricket-philic mob began seeing him as the key player of the Indian squad. He gave not only sturdy support to the team but also stood bold against all the odds of the game whenever the team battled hard at the pitch. While receiving the auspicious honour, the "Man of the Series" during the 1985 World Championship of cricket; Shastri was bestowed with an Audi 100, and the whole cricket world watched the moment with a jaw-dropping expression. Out of his eleven Test career centuries, seven were scored overseas which is a proud record.

Encounter with Injuries

On the verge to deliver more historic performances; Shastri encountered many brutal injuries, but he never let them get in his way to play his heart out for the nation at several international pitches. But, soon, the injuries began dominating his passion. During the tri-series in Australia; Shastri was enrolled at the last moment to play just after his severe knee injury, but he failed to make his splendid 27 runs off just 16 balls to a victorious ending because of his injury. Post this happened, Shastri was dropped from the team, and a quite long phase passed the national team playing without him. Even for the England series for which he wanted to play, his injuries inhibited him and eventually he has to draw curtains on his international career.

Commentary Career

As it is rightly said that one should never stop until he has potential; Shastri knocked up a new door to enter into a new career stream- an impeccable commentator with his command over the English language. He began his commentary career with the World Masters Tournament in 1995, and it has never seemed that Shastri was new to the commentary box and soon became the most sought TV commentator and cricket analyst with his hawk-eye view at each specific movement on the field. With his magical voice and pitch-experiences; he has been able to articulate the historical catches, jaw-dropping sixes and bowling blazes.  

Coaching Career

Shastri temporarily donned the coach cap for Team India for their Bangladesh Tour in 2007 and involved with the sport; being amongst the officials. In July 2017, after an unceremonious departure of Anil Kumble from the coach role, the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC), comprising Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly assigned Shastri as the Head Coach of the Indian Cricket Team, and he is leading the team towards great success heights.

Shastri being extrovert and bold in every aspect of life never compromises with what is square and fair and always speaks what he feels right inspite of facing loads of criticism from media. Apart from his huge pay role as the leading coach of the national side; Shastri is a business brain who has invested in many shares and partnerships worth around Rs. 32 crores and has a big garage to park his significant collection of luxury cars. With the bottom line to define this cricket giant, he is the hero behind the stage performance of the Indian cricket squad, a deep thinker and a smart strategist whose planning hardly fails to produce historical victories.