Sunil Gavaskar, Kevin Pietersen, Matthew Hayden, Harsha Bhogle send wishes to Ravi Shastri on his 62nd birthday

The former Indian all-rounder and head coach, Ravi Shastri is celebrating his 62nd birthday on Monday, as he was flooded with heartfelt wishes from his contemporaries and colleagues from the cricketing fraternity. Legendary figures like Sunil Gavaskar, Kevin Pietersen, and Matthew Hayden, share a special bond with Shastri through their years of commentary stints.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) posted a clip featuring the distinguished group of former cricketers and renowned broadcaster Harsha Bhogle enacting Shastri's renowned mannerisms and energy. 

"Not a toss update but… 😉 …one legendary and energetic birthday wish for one legendary individual from his fellow commentators 🤗 Wishing a Happy Birthday to the legendary Mr. Ravi Shastri 😎 #TeamIndia | @ravishastriofficial," read the caption of the social media post. 

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Ravi Shastri was part of India's 1983 World Cup squad

Shastri's international career spanned from 1981 to 1992, and he played as an all-rounder who could contribute with both bat and ball. His performances often proved instrumental in challenging situations, whether opening the batting, anchoring the middle order, or delivering crucial overs of left-arm spin.

While his Test record is noteworthy, with 3,830 runs at an average of 35.79 and 151 wickets, Shastri registered his name as one of the greats in Indian cricketing history. He was a part of the historic 1983 World Cup-winning squad, and later played a pivotal role in India's triumph at the 1985 World Championship of Cricket, where he was named the 'Man of the Tournament.'

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After his retirement, Shastri's voice and enthusiasm made him a beloved figure in the commentary box. His iconic calls during India's victories at the 2007 T20 World Cup and the 2011 Cricket World Cup are in the memories of millions of fans.

He also took up the role of head coach of the Indian team from 2017 to 2021. Under his guidance, the Men in Blue achieved remarkable feats, including historic Test series wins against Sri Lanka, and West Indies, and notable T20I series triumphs in South Africa, New Zealand, England, and Australia. He was also part of the coaching staff when India won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy on the last two occasions.