The Indian Cricket Team will set off for Sri Lanka later today to play 3 Tests, 5 ODIs and 1 T-20 beginning from July 26. Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri, the newly appointed coach of the men’s cricket team attended a news conference just before they take off.
The recent turmoil regarding the selection process of the coaching staff had much criticism directed towards BCCI. After all the drama that unfolded slowly before our eyes, Shastri is eager to shift focus to their players and their cricket.
While talking to the media, Shastri provided an insight what his plans will be as a coach. Shastri was also quoted saying, “I have matured immensely, and I don’t carry baggage. Shastri’s and Kumble’s will come and go, the fabric of the team remains.”
India will start the tour with the first Test match at Galle on 26th July. The second test match will be held at SSC Colombo on 3rd August &  the final test match to be played at Kandy from 12th August.
While talking about placing Bharat Arun over the legend Zaheer Khan who owns a lot of experience as a player, Shastri said: “He has immense experience and a great track record as a coach, knows the team better than I do.” Shastri also pointed out that though Arun had very less experience as a player, he has more than 15 years of coaching experiences.
When asked about how he plans to work with the new coach, Virat said: “We have worked together earlier as well so I don’t think much effort will be required to understand each other.” Ravi Shastri was appointed as the director of the team in 2014 until Anil Kumble was given the head coach’s role.
“I only have my bat in hand and my job is to go out there and control what’s been done on the field. And, that’s something that I have focused on in the past couple of months and I continue to do so. A lot of speculations and lot of things fly around and those things are not in my control. As I said, my job is to go out there on the field and try to bring the best out of this team along with the management and try to perform to the best of my abilities which I believe in.” he signed off talking about the recent fiasco that took place between him and the ex-India coach Anil Kumble and on the rumors that was float around.
