Ravi Shastri retained as Team India head coach

Thanks to Kohli's backing, Shastri was always the favourite for the post

ravi-shastri-press-reuters (File) India head coach Ravi Shastri during a press conference at The Oval in London | Reuters

The incumbent head coach of Indian men's cricket team, Ravi Shastri, retained his post after the Kapil Dev-led Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) decided to stick with him after interviewing five contenders, including Shastri. Former West Indies opener Phil Simmons pulled out of the race earlier today, and hence, was not interviewed.

Shastri's new contract will extend up to the 2021 T20 World Cup in India.

Former national team fielding coach Robin Singh and 2007 World T20-winning cricket manager Lalchand Rajput appeared in person for the interviews at a suburban hotel, while former Australia all-rounder and Sri Lanka coach Tom Moody appeared via Skype from Australia. Former New Zealand coach Mike Hesson and Shastri were interviewed in the afternoon.

Among the five contenders, Hesson came in the second followed by Moody, said Kapil Dev. The former India captain also clarified that skipper Virat Kohli's views were not sought. The CAC rated the contenders on five parameters—coaching philosophy, experience, achievements, communication, and "knowledge of modern coaching tools".

The CAC, which also comprises former coach Anshuman Gaekwad and former women's captain Shanta Rangaswamy, made the announcement in a press conference at BCCI headquarters in Mumbai.

Shastri was the team director till June 2016 until India lost in the World T20 semifinals before being reappointed as head coach in 2017 after Anil Kumble's departure. His record since his comeback in 2017 has been very impressive, having guided the team to its maiden Test series win on Australian soil last year.

In 21 Tests since July 2017, under Shastri, India won 13 of them with a victory percentage of 52.38. It's even better in T20Is with 25 wins from 36 games with a win percentage of 69.44. The ODI record takes the cake with 43 wins in 60 games and a success rate of 71.67.

The only blips could be the fact that in 2015 World Cup in Australia (when he was team director) and the last edition in UK, the team couldn't go beyond the semifinals.

But the complete domination in the Caribbean, in both T20s and ODIs, seems to have worked in his favour.

Shastri, who has played 80 Tests and 150 ODIs, was contracted till the World Cup in England, but was given a 45-day extension till the end of the ongoing West Indies tour.

He was publicly backed by captain Virat Kohli. "Well, the CAC (Cricket Advisory Committee headed by Kapil Dev) has not contacted me on this. But all of us share a great camaraderie with Ravi bhai and would definitely be very happy (to have him around)," Kohli had said prior to his departure for the West Indies.

The interviews for the Team India's support staff will be held next week, tentatively from August 19-22.

(With PTI inputs)