Pakistan thrash India to claim Champions Trophy

Test great Ravi Shastri is the latest former player to throw his hat in the ring for the India head coach role left vacant by Anil Kumble.

Shastri confirmed to the New Indian Express he was applying for the position after Kumble resigned from the post in the wake of India’s Champions Trophy final defeat to arch-rivals Pakistan.

The 55-year-old is now perhaps the leading contender in a field that includes former India opener Virender Sehwag, former Australia allrounder Tom Moody, current Afghanistan head coach Lalchand Rajput, West Indies director of cricket Richard Pybus and former Test player Dodda Ganesh.

Shastri applied for the role in 2016 but lost out to Kumble, who held the position for 12 months and guided India to five Test series wins without suffering a series defeat.

Despite being offered a contract extension, Kumble quit after the Champions Trophy final loss, saying his relationship with captain Virat Kohli had become “untenable”.

Full Story: Kohli reservations forced Kohli resignation

The pair denied a rift for weeks before the coach stood down, who revealed Kohli had “reservations” about his coaching style.

"I was informed for the first time yesterday (June 20) by the BCCI that the captain had reservations with my 'style' and about my continuing as the head coach," Kumble said in a tweet he posted shortly after he officially resigned.

"I was surprised since I had always respected the role boundaries between captain and coach.

"Though the BCCI attempted to resolve the misunderstandings between the captain and me, it was apparent that the partnership was untenable, and I therefore believe it is best for me to move on."

The handling of the messy feud between the former coach and current captain has been condemned by Sourav Ganguly, a former India skipper and one of three men – alongside Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman – tasked with recommending the new mentor.

"The matter between Kumble and Kohli should have been handled a lot better, by whoever in charge," Ganguly said.

"It was not handled properly."

The cut-off date for applicants is July 9, with Dr. MV Sridhar acting as interim coach for India’s ongoing limited-overs tour of the Caribbean.