Former India coach, ex-allrounder and current commentator Ravi Shastri will be bestowed with the lifetime-achievement award by the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) in Hyderabad on Tuesday. The BCCI will conduct its award ceremony for the first time since 2019, the initial delay being because of COVID.
Shastri, 61, has worn multiple hats during his illustrious career on and off the field. Shastri played 80 Tests and 150 ODIs for India and his international career span was from 1981 to 1992.
Post retirement he took up commentary. Shastri was appointed as director of the Indian cricket team in 2014 and remained in that post till the 2016 World Cup.
He returned again just over a year later after Anil Kumble decided not to continue as coach.
He found an ally in captain Virat Kohli and together, they played a key role in transforming Indian cricket.
Under him, India refused to surrender at any point and a high-quality ensemble of fast bowlers were assembled.
Under Shastri’s tenure the Indian team reached the semifinals of the 50-over World Cup in England in 2019. With Shastri as coach, the Indian Test team won two away series in Australia, the first in 2018/19 and then in 2020/21.
India also made the final of the inaugural Test championships but lost to New Zealand at Lord’s.
It was also a period when India were ranked No.1 in Test cricket. However the Shastri and Kohli combination failed to win an ICC Trophy.
Shastri started as a left-arm spinner and a tailender and then became an all-rounder, then transitioned into a very successful Test opener with hundreds in West Indies and Australia. When injury cut short his career, he became a leading commentator, travelling the length and breadth of the cricketing world.
Winners of the past four years will be handed awards on Tuesday.
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