Former India allrounder and captain Ravi Shastri, who was team director of the Indian men's cricket team from August 2014 to April 2016, has been appointed as head coach for a two-year period until the end of the 2019 ICC World Cup. Former fast bowling spearhead Zaheer Khan was appointed the bowling coach and former batting great and captain Rahul Dravid was named batting consultant for specific overseas tours.
While Shastri brings with him a wealth of experience, both as player and as coach, Zaheer assumed the mentoring role to a young fast bowling unit even during his playing days with India. His inputs will be of immense value to young Indian fast bowlers, who have shown tremendous potential in the last couple of years. As the Indian team is to play Test cricket overseas in the next two years, Dravid's expertise as batting consultant will be immensely helpful for youngsters.
Zaheer, who last played international cricket in 2014, is considered to be one of finest exponents of swing bowling India has ever produced.
Having initially not applied for the post, but belatedly joining the fray once the BCCI extended the deadline to accept applications until July 9, the 55-year-old beat out a list of applicants comprising former India opener Virender Sehwag, former Sri Lanka coach and current coach of IPL franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad Tom Moody, current Afghanistan coach Lalchand Rajput and former Pakistan and Bangladesh coach and director of West Indies cricket Richard Pybus.
The Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) comprising of Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman and Sachin Tendulkar had interviewed five candidates – Richard Pybus, Tom Moody, Ravi Shastri, Virender Sehwag and Lalchand Rajput for the post and ultimately it was Shastri who secured the job.
