Ravi Shastri appointed India Head coach, Zaheer Khan named bowling coach

New Delhi, July 11: Putting an end to hours of confusion, the Board of Control for for Cricket in India (BCCI) finally confirmed former India cricketer Ravi Shastri as the head coach of Indian cricket team till 2019 World Cup on Tuesday (July 11).

Twitterati react to Ravi Shastri's appointment as India coach

Former India pacer Zaheer Khan has been appointed as the bowling coach while India A and Under 19 coach Rahul Dravid has been named the batting consultant for overseas tours.

"Rahul Dravid appointed as overseas batting coach. Tenure of Shastri, Khan and Dravid will be till 2019 World Cup," said BCCI acting President CK Khanna.

Shastri had earlier served as the Team India director between 2014 and 2016 and was considered as the frontrunner for the post. He will succeed former India coach and legendary spinner Anil Kumble, who stepped down as the coach earlier last month, as the new coach.

Ravi Shastri appointed next coach of Team India, Zaheer Khan to be bowling coach: CK Khanna (Acting President, BCCI) pic.twitter.com/iqpsKsqaJB

— ANI (@ANI_news) July 11, 2017

Zaheer's name as the bowling coach came a wonderful surprise to cricket enthusiasts who were constantly pitching for the former speedster to be appointed as the bowling coach for the team.

Shastri (55) along with former India opener Virender Sehwag, Tom Moody, Lalchand Rajput and Richard Pybus were screened by the Cricket Advisory Committee, consisting Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman, on Monday (July 10).

Shastri was the top choice for the coveted job ever since he applied for it, as he is in the good books with the India skipper Virat Kohli and was the first choice of the cricketers.

The former India all-rounder led the Men in Blue to the semi-finals of the World Cup 2015 and World T20 2016. Shastri had also applied for the job in 2016, but Kumble was picked over him by the CAC.

The CAC, however, deferred the announcement for the time being as they wanted to have a discussion with India skipper Virat Kohli.

Big move: Shastri Head coach, Zaheer Khan bowling coach and Rahul Dravid batting consultant on overseas tours #BREAKING @aajtak

— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) July 11, 2017

"We respect his (Virat's) decision. At the end of the day it is his team, he is going to lead the team. He (Virat) will be consulted and no, he will not be the main person and he doesn't want to be the main person," Ganguly told reporters earlier in the day.

But the Supreme Court appointed Committee of Administrators (COA) was unhappy with any further delay on this matter and asked the CAC as well as the BCCI to announce the name of the new coach today itself.

Minutes after the reports of Shastri's appointment came out in the evening, the BCCI officials held a press conference to deny the reports, which triggered massive confusion.

OneIndia News