“Yes, I have decided to apply for the job”

Image courtesy of: Zimbio

Ravi Shastri has revealed that he will be putting his name forward for the India head coach job.

Shastri applied for the post last year, but was unsuccessful as Anil Kumble was deemed to be the best candidate.

Prior to that, Shastri was India’s team director between August 2014 and April 2016, during which the national team made it to the semi-finals of the 2015 World Cup and 2016 World Twenty20. They also sat at the summit of the Test rankings for eight weeks before Australia dethroned them in February 2016.

“Yes, I have decided to apply for the job,” Shastri told the New Indian Express.

Shastri’s decision to apply for the post comes after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) decided to reopen the application process after Kumble resigned as head coach last week.

It remains to be seen whether Shastri will be added to the list of candidates that have been shortlisted, which currently comprises of Virender Sehwag, Tom Moody, Lalchand Rajput, Richard Pybus and Dodda Ganesh.

The Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC), which consists of Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman, will tell the BCCI who they believe the best person is to succeed Kumble as head coach.

It is understood that the BCCI want a new head coach in place before India’s tour of Sri Lanka next month. But, should the CAC need more time, the board are willing to wait.