The Kapil Dev-led Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) has decided to retain Ravi Shastri as Team India’s head coach. Team India had qualified for the semi-final of the 2019 World Cup under Shastri after which his and the support staff’s tenure had officially ended. However, they were given a 45-day extension with the West Indies tour coming up where India have already won the T20I and ODI series.

The CAC had shortlisted a total of six candidates for the top job and interviewed each one of those including Ravi Shastri who is currently in the West Indies. Moreover, Phil Simmons had dropped out of the selection process at the last moment reportedly due to personal reasons.

The three former India cricketers Kapil Dev, Anshuma Gaekwad and Shantha Rangaswamy addressed the media after carrying out the interviews on Friday. Kapil cleared that there was a close contest between Tom Moody, Mike Hesson and Shastri and they eventually decided to continue with the current coach.

Moody came third while Hesson was the runner up

Kapil Dev led the press conference as well and while announcing Ravi Shastri’s name yet again at the helm, he praised Moody and Hesson as well. According to him, all the three CAC members gave independent marks to the presentations made by the shortlisted candidates and they unanimously zeroed in on Shastri’s name.

Shastri will now continue as Team India’s head coach until the T20 World Cup in 2021 and the CAC was impressed with his presentation. Reportedly, he was the last one to appear for the interview with the difference in the time zone between India and the West Indies. The CAC members also cleared that the past performances of the Indian team with Shastri at the helm also went in favour in him.

This will be the third stint for Ravi Shastri with the Indian team as he served as the team manager during the 2015 World Cup before being appointed the coach after the 2017 Champions Trophy.

The CAC reappoints Mr Ravi Shastri as the Head Coach of the Indian Cricket Team. pic.twitter.com/vLqgkyj7I2

— BCCI (@BCCI) August 16, 2019