Ravi Shastri to apply for Indian cricket team's head coach position post Anil Kumble's exit

Former India team director Ravi Shastri has thrown in his candidature for the position of the team’s head coach post . “Yes, I have decided to apply for the job,” he confirmed to The Indian Express. Shastri also rubbished claims that he will apply only after he is assured of getting the job. 

Board of Control for Cricket in India had invited further applications for the post of the national team head coach amid growing speculations over who would be replacing Anil Kumble.

Shastri was director of the Indian cricket team between 2014 and 2016 in which he led the team to the semi-final of the 2015 World Cup and 2015 T20I World Cup. He had also applied for the job in 2016 but Anil Kumble was chosen over him. 

Former Indian coach Anil Kumble had resigned from the position of head coach after the recently concluded ICC Champions Trophy. Under him, the team beat West Indies in a Test series before inflicting Test defeats on New Zealand, England, Bangladesh and Australia at home. They also won the accompanying limited overs series. India then reached the final of the recently concluded ICC Champions Trophy 2017.

Kumble turned down an offer to extend his contract just a few days after the end of the Champions Trophy amid rumours of a rift between him and captain Virat Kohli.