Former India batsman says Ravi Shastri will be backdoor entry as India coach

Former India batsman Sudhir Naik, who was involved in a verbal rift with Ravi Shastri in 2015, has voiced his opinion on the latter’s application for the role of Indian coach without mincing words. Naik has boldly said that if Shastri ends up being Kumble’s successor, one can look at his entry as a backdoor entry. And this sentiment has also been shared by many other, because Kohli was always in favour of the former India team director to take up the post of the head coach.

Ever since Shastri declared that he would be applying for the head coach’s post, not many received the news well, citing that Kohli had apparently plotted Kumble’s exit so that ‘close ally’ Shastri could become the coach. The Mumbaikar was involved in a verbal duet with Naik, who had prepared the batting-friendly Wankhede Stadium pitch for the fifth ODI against South Africa on October 25, 2015.

Naik expressed his concern over Shastri’s candidature. “To appoint Shastri at this point is just like a backdoor entry… it is certainly a backdoor entry! It’s a pity that good coaches like Anil Kumble don’t seem to be wanted,” Naik told Mid-day.”If these players are not listening to Kumble, who played such a high level of cricket, is intelligent and dished out a stupendous performance, how can they pay attention to another coach,” the 72-year old continued.

Captain enjoys veto power

Much like the opinion of many others too, Naik feels that the Indian board has centralised powers in the hands of the captain, which is very unfair for the coach. Not stopping at that, he also said that the team doesn’t need a coach if they cannot respect someone like Kumble.

“The BCCI should make it clear that the coach is the boss and all players should listen and follow his instructions. If players don’t respect a person like Kumble, then I don’t think this team needs a coach. Let Kohli be the boss. Anyway, we are playing in the West Indies without a coach and things can continue like that.”

The deadline for the new coach is before the tour to Sri Lanka which begins in July. And Shastri, for reasons obvious, is the frontrunner in the race.