Ravi Shastri signed off as India's head coach after the conclusion of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 in November last year.
Under his coaching stint, India created history by winning the Border-Gavaskar Trophy twice in Australia. They were leading 2-1 in the Test series against England, which ended prematurely due to the COVID-19 outbreak in the visiting camp.
India also won the white-ball series in South Africa, New Zealand, England, and Australia with Shastri at the helm. Touring West Indies, they beat the hosts in shorter formats and also whitewashed them in a Test series for the first time.
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In an interview to UK’s ‘The Guardian’ newspaper, Shastri reflected on his coaching tenure, saying there was a “gang of people in India” who always wanted him to fail.
“I didn’t have coaching badges [either]. Level one? Level two? **** that. And in a country like India, there is always jealousy or a gang of people willing you to fail. I had a thick skin, thicker than the leather of the Dukes ball you use. A real solid hide,” Shastri said.
The former India coach also had some advice for Rob Key, who has been appointed as ECB’s ‘Director of Cricket.’
“And you need a bloody hide over here. Rob will develop this as he does the job, because every day you are judged. And I am glad he has a lot of captaincy experience from his time at Kent, because communication with the players is absolutely paramount,” he added.
According to Ravi Shastri, outlining the philosophy and team culture is important to be successful for longer periods.
“…it was also outlining how we want to play: to be aggressive and ruthless, to up the fitness levels, to get a group of fast bowlers to take 20 wickets overseas. And it was about attitude, especially when playing the Aussies. I told the boys if one single expletive comes your way, give them three back: two in our language and one in theirs.”
