Ravi Shastri Not Used to Rejection: Sanjay Manjrekar
Ravi Shastri lost out to Anil Kumble in the race for India head coach. Former Mumbai Ranji Trophy teammate Sanjay Manjrekar feels BCCI has made the right decision in choosing Kumble
- NDTVSports
- Updated: June 29, 2016 05:18 PM IST
Highlights
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Sanjay Manjrekar has backed Anil Kumble's appointment as head coach
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Kumble beat Ravi Shastri to the coveted Indian cricket job
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Shastri has been a BCCI favourite for several years
Sanjay Manjrekar has said on social media that Anil Kumble "was a better choice" than Ravi Shastri as head coach of Indian cricket team.
The former Test batsman and well-known TV commentator also reacted to Shastri's disappointment at Sourav Ganguly, who was one of the dominant members of the BCCI's Cricket Advisory Committee that interviewed candidates for the top job.
Shastri was in pole position to secure the head coach's job after a good 18-month run with the Indian team as its director. But the equation changed once Anil Kumble became a candidate.
The Indian cricket team now has a coach who will put his heart & soul in the job. Anil Kumble knows no other way of working.
- Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) June 23, 2016
Ganguly, who as president of Cricket Association of Bengal is increasingly becoming an important factor in BCCI's powerplay, played a big role in Kumble's appointment. The former captain also secured the support of VVS Laxman and Sachin Tendulkar, the other members of the advisory panel.
A favourite of BCCI's mandarins, Shastri appointment as team director (on top of head coach Duncan Fletcher) in August 2014 came as a major surprise. Over the years, Shastri was omnipresent in all big BCCI events, including IPL.
Manjrekar, who has been Shastri's teammate in the Mumbai Ranji team and in recent times shared space in the commentary box, has mocked at Shastri's angst at Ganguly.
"More than Ganguly, Ravi is miffed with the rejection. It's a new experience for him," Manjrekar tweeted.
More than Sourav, I think Ravi is miffed with the rejection. It's a new experience for him. BCCI have made the better choice as coach.
- Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) June 29, 2016
Meanwhile in Bangalore on Wednesday, Kumble has handled the head coach row better.
"It's not about me or Ravi. It's about the players and the success of Indian team," said Kumble, adding that the head coach's job was not a "permanent" position.