Ravi Shastri and Virat Kohli are said to share a great bond as head coach and captain. | Photo Credit: PTI

Key Highlights Ravi Shastri replaced Anil Kumble as head coach of Indian team in 2017 Shastri's tenure came to an end after World Cup 2019 post which he was given a 45-day extension BCCI has invited fresh applications for the posts of head coach and support staff

Even before the Indian cricket team’s World Cup 2019 campaign came to an end, Ravi Shastri and his support staff were given a 45-day extension. Ever since Shastri took over as the head coach of the Indian team, the team has reached new heights – where Kohli’s men went on to win their maiden Test series on Australian soil and also reached the semi-finals of the World Cup 2019. Despite Shastri having done well since taking over as the head coach, the BCCI has invited fresh applications for the position of the head coach as well as for several other support staff members.

Soon after BCCI invited applications, several top names from the world of cricket applied for the position of head coach, considering it’s one of the most lucrative jobs. However, as per a BCCI official, it would be 'unfair' to change the coach at the moment considering both Shastri and Virat Kohli complement each other.

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"Nothing permanent with a long term effect should happen at this stage of transition. Shastri and Kohli complement each other well and it would be unfair to change half of a team that has been successful," the official told a news agency.

The official went on to add that a change of coach at the moment would mean that the players will have to adapt to a new style of coaching and it would affect the equation which currently exists in the dressing room.

"A change in coach may prove to (to be an act that will) disturb the equation that exists which allows the players to have the mental space to excel. If a change is made at this stage, then it would be a change of strategy and planning for the next 5 years. It would be unfair to take such a decision at a stage when the stakeholders are not the ones deciding," the official explained.

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There’s no denying the fact that a new coach will lead to changes in the routines of the players, but the moot point is – why did BCCI invite fresh applications if replacing the current coach would be ‘unfair’? It also raises the question whether the ongoing process, which will take a lot of time, is just a mere formality?

Kohli is said to share a great camaraderie with Shastri – something for which he has been questioned as well. When asked if Shastri was a 'yes man', Kohli said at a press conference, “About saying yes all the time, it is the most bizarre thing that I have heard. I don’t think there is anyone who has said 'no' to me more than him in Indian cricket, honestly. Because he is the one guy I can speak to and get an honest opinion and he will tell me something that doesn’t need to be done.”

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While it's good that both Kohli and Shastri gel well, but the point to be taken into consideration, is the fact whether other players are being benefited from the duo's partnership or not? While Shastri gives the players a lot of freedom, when it comes to discipline, he is not the ideal candidate. Kumble, who is one of the most respected figures in world cricket, had to let go of his position as the head coach after players complained of his coaching style - which included strict disciplinary guidelines, to the BCCI.

If Shastri, who replaced Kumble as the head coach in 2017, manages to retain his position, going forward, other eligible candidates henceforth might think twice before applying for any applications invited by the BCCI.