Thread by @KShriniwasRao

Back from a vacation and it’s time to get back to #threads. Have so much to share but for now, let’s look at a #thread on RAVI SHASTRI. The man has always been around for Indian cricket and stood up to all that’s been asked of him. Let’s take a look at his contributions. (1/25)

An out and out ‘Bombay’ product, responsible for making cricket popular at Don Bosco High School, his alma mater and essentially a school highly passionate about football. He later switched to Poddar – a college more in tune with the bat and ball. (2/25)

Player – 80 Tests, 150 ODIs, 245 First Class matches; Opener, middle-order bat, left-arm spinner; Captain, strategist, thinker, Champion of Champions (Benson & Hedges). Audi’s brand ambassador for life. Oh, and let’s not forget – the ultimate charmer too! (3/25)

Played in every position that was asked of him. Owned the ‘chapati shot’, that flick off the pads. Made Bombay debut at age of 17. Seven of his 11 Test centuries came overseas, including his highest every – 206 – at the SCG. (4/25)

As Test captain, Ravi led India to victory in the 87-88 Madras Test against the West Indies. First man to hit six sixes in an over in FC cricket after Gary Sobers. Averaged 77.5 against the Aussies. All of this, before he embarked on other memorable journeys in life. (5/25)

The analyst: Immediately after retirement, he plunged into commentary. Think of India’s greatest cricketing moments then on, you’ll hear his voice. “…and Mahendra Singh Dhoni finishes it in style. India win the World Cup…” Sreesanth’s 2007 catch, Yuvi’s 6 sixes. (6/25)

A columnist, a TV presenter, anchor… Shastri was all of this. In 2007, when India returned post the 1st round exit at the World Cup, BCCI asked Ravi to take over as manager (read: coach). He obliged. Was instrumental in infusing positivity back into the side. (7/25)

The same year, he also became the director at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore and was instrumental in getting Dav Whatmore there. India found Cheteshwar Pujara that very year. The following year, he’d be part of IPL’s governing council on BCCI’s request. (8/25)

In 2014, the Indian team was struggling in England. Then BCCI prez N Srinivasan asked Ravi to help. Ravi had just signed a contract with Star – Indian cricket’s new broadcasters. Ravi went and spoke to Star boss Uday Shankar. (9/25)

Uday was large hearted. He said he had no problems. Ravi gave up on a lucrative contract to go back and work with the Indian team – and mind you, this he did without a contract in hand from the BCCI. ‘Money was secondary,’ he says. (10/25)

It was during those days he and Virat Kohli became better friends. Virat was facing issues countering swing. Ravi asked him to stand out a bit in front of the crease. It helped Virat. The skipper-in-the-making saw a mentor in Ravi. (11/25)

The team loved his presence. Work hard, party harder – Ravi brought in great positivity. The players knew they could share their minds with him and he would keep their secrets, fight hard for them. Deal with whoever it takes. Ravi has that personality. (12/25)

Sooner than later, the rest of the team got very close to him. So much so, that in 2017 when BCCI brought out ads to pick India’s next coach and the team flew from England to the Caribbean after the 2017 Champions Trophy, players knew who they wanted. (13/25)

Ravi Shastri was India’s unanimous choice. The senior players in the team put their foot down. It would have to be Shastri and nobody else. The BCCI – then run by the COA – had no choice but to oblige. And Ravi would go on to work wonders. (14/25)

His first responsibility – the team wouldn’t be about ‘I’ (any individual). Instead, it would be about ‘we’. He instilled that culture. A great communicator, he had the unique ability to sit down and talk to people about their issues, help them sort. (15/25)

He brought Bharat Arun on board as the bowling coach, despite section of individuals in BCCI having issues with it. Arun went on to become India’s finest bowling coach ever. Post 2018, India’s attacks have been the best in the world. (16/25)

As social media menace grew, Ravi knew there would be much negativity coming the team’s way. He was fine soaking it all in. People made fun, he laughed back. Never took those ‘insults’ seriously. “Shrini – let them have fun at my expense yaar…” (17/25)

He was spending time with his daughter on one of the tours when a tabloid ran a story that he had been going around with some actress. The story was absolutely rubbish. It caused him great personal pain. But Ravi being Ravi, he ignored. (18/25)

“Hahahaha… you guys are working overtime,” he would laugh in his booming voice. Never vindictive. Never abusive. Never angry. It has been a rare trait. “Chalta hai yaar, usko bhi toh kuch kaam karna hai (It’s okay. He also has to do his work)”. (19/25)

Young players who thought they could sneak out of hotel rooms & go out to party soon became wary of Ravi. A player told me “Ravi bhai ko ullu banaana asaan nahi hai. Door se pehchaan lete hain… (it’s not easy to fool Ravi bhai. He can see through you from a distance”. (20/27)

Made fitness the high point. Introduced the yo-yo tests for team ahead of selection, in coordination with BCCI. His greatest strength: Was always a friend to the players. The juniormost in the team could come and speak his heart & mind out to ‘Ravi bhai’. (21/25)

Gave Bharat Arun a free hand to work on India’s bowling unit. Arun took Jasprit Bumrah took SA in 2018 and the whole look of India’s pace attack began to change. Test cricket, Ravi said, would remain the biggest focus during his stint. (22/25)

India had won the 50-over World Cup twice, the T20 WC once, Champions Trophy twice. Were world’s no. 1 Test team in the past. But had never won some tough overseas assignments. India came close to winning in SA in 2018. UK, same here, was a case of so close yet so far. (23/25)

Then came the tour of Australia. No team from sub-continent achieved what Team India under Ravi did in Australia – winning a series on Australian soil not once but twice, back-to-back. His finest as coach came against a team that his batting average was also the finest. (24/25)

The team did well in England too, almost bagged the five-Test series this year. You win some, you lose some. Knowing Ravi, he'll take great pride in what this team achieved.

NowTwitterati should tell:
* Should Ravi continue coaching?
* Should he go back to commentary?

(25/25)