Former India captain, head coach, and 1983 World Cup winner Ravi Shastri is celebrating his 60th birthday on May 27, 2022. Shastri had an excellent career for the Indian team from 1981-to 1992, which was unfortunately cut short due to a knee injury and he retired at the age of 30.
Shastri was a very good left-arm spinner and right-handed batsman who batted at all positions from no.11 to no.1 in his Test career. Shastri played 80 Tests making 3830 runs and picking 151 wickets, while in 150 ODIs, he made 3108 runs and picked 129 wickets. He made a total of 16 centuries in international cricket with his Test-best being 206 and ODI best being 129.
He was the second batsman after Sir Garfield Sobers to achieve the feat of hitting 6 sixes in six consecutive balls in FC cricket.
Apart from being part of the 1983 World Cup-winning Indian team under Kapil Dev, Shastri also added another feather to his crown, when he was named the Player of the Tournament in the 1985 World Championship of Cricket in Australia, which India won by beating Pakistan in the finals.
After his playing days were over, Shastri turned to media work and made quite a name for himself as a commentator. His crowning glory with the mic came when he called the now unforgettable moment of MS Dhoni hitting a six to win the final of the 2011 World Cup at Wankhede Stadium against Sri Lanka.
As director and later head coach of the India team, Shastri guided then captain Virat Kohli and co to the no.1 spot in Test rankings for 5 years straight and into the semi-finals of the ICC World Cup 2019. His tenure came to end with India crashing out in the league stage of the ICC T20 World Cup 2021.
He has returned back in the commentary box and as he celebrated his 60th birthday today, wishes poured in from the Indian cricket fraternity.
Here are some of the wishes:
