Dubai: Former BCCI president N Srinivasan had “more faith” in his coaching abilities and outgoing Team India head coach Ravi Shastri thanked the Tamil Nadu strongman in earnest while stating that he performed his duties without any vested interests.
Shastri was appointed Team Director by erstwhile BCCI president Srinivasan back in 2014 after India lost the Test series in England 1-3.
“I think it’s been one helluva of a journey for me, personally. I know it is my last day in the dressing room, I just spoke to the boys, but I would like to thank the BCCI, for giving me this opportunity, believing that I could do the job and I wish the coach coming after me all the luck,” Shastri said at the press conference.
“I must thank in this also, all the committees, that were there in picking me as the coach, including Vinod Rai and his team for some time, the COA, I would like thank all of them because, they were all part of the journey,” he said
But the highest regards was reserved for Srinivasan, one of the most powerful BCCI presidents in the history of Indian cricket.
‘but one man I would like to give special mention — his name is N Srinivasan. He was the man who insisted that I do this job in 2014. In fact, I didn’t have the belief (that) I could do this job, he seemed to have more belief in my ability than I had.”
“And I hope, I haven’t let him down, so if Sir (Srinivasan), you are listening, I got the opportunity and I did my work without any agenda,” Shastri seemed a touch emotional while thanking the former board supremo.
Well aware of the several social media memes he inspired during an eventful tenure as India head coach, Shastri is fine with people having a laugh at his expense and also doesn’t mind the vicious criticism that sometimes came with bad performance of the team.
The 59-year-old former player made light of the social media trolling that often triggers storms now.
“It’s banter all the way, they do it to have fun at my expense, I will take a laugh yaar, have a drink in my name. Kya farak padta hai, Main nimbu paani piyunga or I will have milk and honey, you have a drink, enjoy karo na at my expense,” Shastri said in the post-match press conference when asked how he views the social media criticism and ridicule that he was subjected to during his tenure.
“When you post those kind of things (memes) kitna jan haste hain yaar, kitna jan khush hote hain (so many people have a laugh, feel happy), enjoy karo na yaar. As long as the team does well, I am happy,” he added.
But what about the criticism that comes with almost every India loss? Shastri said it has always been evened out by the effusive praise that accompanies every triumph of the team.
“Criticism kya baat hai yaar…It all revolves around performance, accha karo, you will get the accolades, if you don’t perform, you will get a kick and a slap. Shanti rakho, om shanti om,” he quipped.
Shastri’s partnership with skipper Virat Kohli, who stepped down as T20 captain on Monday, will go down as one of the most successful in Indian cricket.
Under his tutelage, the team became a formidable travelling outfit in Test arena, spending 42 months at the top of the ICC rankings.
On Shastri’s watch, India won T20I series in South Africa, New Zealand, England and Australia.