Shastri taking empty credits for India’s success: Gautam Gambhir

Indian opening batsman Gautam Gambhir has joined the controversial conversation regarding Ravi Shastri’s comments after the appointment of Anil Kumble as the head coach of team India. Gambhir, in a chat with ABP News, backed Kumble and said that said that Shastri was desperate to get the job.

Earlier, Shastri was the one who started off saying that Ganguly was disrespectful to the job he was entrusted with since he was not present while interviewing Shastri. “A member of the committee (Ganguly) wasn’t present and that was disrespectful to the selection process. A person was disrespectful of a candidate who he was going to interview. He was disrespectful to the job he was entrusted with. Next time, be present in a meeting, especially when it is as important as this one.”

The CAB president had responded to that saying, “He has made it personal. I am extremely saddened to hear that from Ravi yesterday. I have an advice for Ravi, during the selection process, he should be in front of the committee, and not in Bangkok. Extremely saddened when he went on air expressing his views, especially from someone who has been in every BCCI committee from the last 20 years. He has been in my position before.”

Gambhir feels that Kumble is the best man for the job and has been given the job deservingly. “I think it was Shastri’s desperation to become the coach that led him to make such statements. Moreover, I feel that Anil Kumble is best man for the job and he has been, deservingly, rewarded with the coveted position,” said Gambhir.

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“There is nothing surprising to Kumble’s selection, as I feel that amongst all those who had applied for the position, Kumble was the best choice, as his was the biggest as well as the most professional name to have applied. But looking at the way Ravi Shastri has been releasing statements and remarks out in the open, it clearly indicates his desperation,” the 34-year-old added.

Gambhir also took a dig at Shastri for taking all the credit for India’s success over the past 18 months. “Shastri has not been able to accept the fact that he wasn’t given the job, and moreover, judging from the way he has been taking credits for India’s success over the past 18 months, he must also have reminded everyone that India lost an ODI series against Bangladesh and another one against South Africa at home during these 18 months. Out of the two World Cups that the team played, one was held at home, and the team could only reach the semi-finals.”

“Hence, I fail to understand the achievements that Shastri has been talking about. If he’s trying to show that India were No. 1 in Tests and T20s at different stages during the past 18 months, I would like to ask him as to what has the team won? You haven’t won an overseas series, you lost to South Africa at home, and lost to Bangladesh in Bangladesh. Therefore, I feel that Shastri is merely projecting himself as someone who was really great for the team.”

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“On the other hand, Kumble is the right man for the post also because he himself has been a hardworking cricketer over the years and would bring the same culture to the team. As far as Shastri is concerned, mere empty talks and taking empty credits would do him no good, and without a substantial proof for his work over the past 18 months, nobody is going to believe in whatever he has to say,” Gambhir concluded.