Indian cricket team’s head coach Ravi Shastri said that one should never overstay their welcome, a hint at his intentions to step down from the position after the T20 World Cup. This statement from the 1983 World Cup winner comes as reports suggest that the BCCI might ask Anil Kumble and VVS Laxman to apply for the post of head coach. 

Ravi Shastri was made the head coach in 2017 after he completed his tenure as the team’s director. 

“I believe so because I’ve achieved all I wanted. Five years as number one in Test cricket, to win in Australia twice, to win in England. I spoke to Michael Atherton earlier this summer and said: ‘For me, this is the ultimate – to beat Australia in Australia and win in England in COIVD times.’ We lead England 2-1 and the way we played at Lord’s and the Oval was special,” The Guardian quoted Shastri.

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He further added that a T20 World Cup win will be an icing on the cake for him. 

“We’ve also beaten every country in the world in their own backyard in white-ball cricket. If we win the T20 World Cup that will be the icing on the cake. There is nothing more. I believe one thing – never overstay your welcome. And I would say that, in terms of what I wanted to get out of the side, I’ve over-achieved. To beat Australia away and to lead the series in England in a Covid year? It is the most satisfying moment of my four decades in cricket,” he added.

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The former Indian opener went on to suggest that the ICC should cut down bilateral games and give time for the players to rest, recuperate and play Test cricket. 

“I would like to see less and less bilateral T20 cricket. Look at football. You have the Premier League, the Spanish league, the Italian league, the German league. They all come together for the Champions League. There are few bilateral football friendlies now. The national teams only play for the World Cup or World Cup qualifying and other major tournaments like the European Championships, Copa America and the Africa Cup of Nations. I think that’s the way T20 cricket should go. Spread the game in different countries, and take it to the Olympics. But cut down on those bilateral games and give time for the players to rest, recuperate and play Test cricket,” said Shastri.

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“They (Team India players) all believe the same. There is enough franchised cricket. That is working. But what is the point of bilateral? In my seven years with this Indian team, I don’t remember one white-ball game. If you win a World Cup final you will remember it and that’s the only thing left for me as a coach. Otherwise, you bloody cleaned up everything across the globe. I don’t remember a single white-ball game. Test matches? I remember every ball. Everything. But the volume is too much. We beat Australia 3-0 in the T20 series. We beat New Zealand 5-0 in New Zealand. Who cares? But beating Australia in two-Test series in Australia? Winning Tests in England? I remember that,” he added.