Ravi Shastri, the India team director, has said that he has already started liaising with the selectors as part of his new role. In a media interaction in Mumbai, Shastri, whose tenure as team director was extended until the World Cup next year, also said that he hoped to pass on his knowledge and experience to the youngsters in the Indian team during his stint.
The former India captain had been appointed to the role during the ODI series on India's tour of England, after the team suffered a 3-1 loss in the Test series. During the working committee meeting last month, the BCCI agreed to extend his tenure along with the terms of three other support staff members - B Arun, Sanjay Bangar and R Sridhar - who had also been brought in along with Shastri.
"I have already started talking to them [the selection committee] and we have no issues on that. My job is not to select an Indian cricket team, it is their job, but my job is to at least communicate with them and see on what lines they are [thinking] so that we both are on the same page," he said, at the Mumbai Press Club event. "Probably discuss talent, discuss what would be the kind of team you need in Australia.
"See, combinations are very important. You have got to identify your strengths and see who are the right people to manage those roles and areas of your strengths. That importantly comes up with the team. Prime importance, I believe, will always be given to current form. I think form is very important.
"My job is to communicate with whoever is there and I will not take a step back. At the moment, I have been communicating with all the five."
Elaborating on his role with the team, Shastri said he aims to pass on the experience of having played the game at the highest level and watched it closely from the commentary box since his retirement to the young Indian team.
"My job [as director] is to ensure that everything is in order. It's not just about communicating with the players. It's also about giving your views, your inputs as a former player, and as a broadcaster. I've watched more cricket than I've played. So there's enough in this upper-storey here (pointing to his forehead) that can be used before I forget it," he said. "That's what I tell the players. Don't be afraid to ask me questions, because there's enough there for me to be able to contribute. Yes, obviously you'll have to have a dialogue with the selectors as to where they're coming from and what their train of thought is. What we feel as part of the Indian cricket team, so that there's healthy communication and you get something that's best for the Indian cricket team."
While appointing Shastri during the series in England, the BCCI "gave a break" to fielding coach Trevor Penney and bowling coach Joe Dawes, who had worked closely with the team's head coach, Duncan Fletcher. When asked if Fletcher had come to terms with a new support-staff group, Shastri said: "Absolutely, he is brilliant. He is a seasoned campaigner. He has over 100 Test matches as a coach for various teams. The good thing is Fletch and me go a long way back. We know each other. I captained the U-25 team against Zimbabwe in 1984 when he was the captain of Zimbabwe. He has got a fabulous track record. It is how we use the knowledge that he has in the best possible way and communicate with the players."
Shastri reiterated that, despite his and Fletcher's presence in the team, MS Dhoni was the man in charge.
"The boss is the captain on the cricket field. I am in charge of the coaching staff. That's put into place. My job is to oversee things and see things go all right. Who cares who's the boss? At the end of the day, you win and to hell with it, yaar. Jisko boss banna hai bano. [Whoever wants to be the boss, let him do so]."
Shastri contended that the Twenty20 format was crucial for Test cricket to thrive but said that lengthy bilateral T20 and ODI series could be reduced. He suggested that the World Cup and the World T20 should have the most emphasis among limited-overs competitions.
"If you look at cricket per say, if you didn't have T20 cricket, Test cricket will die. People don't realise. You just play Test cricket, and don't play one-day cricket and T20 cricket, and speak to me after 10 years. The economics will just not allow the game to survive," he stated. "You need that injection by the way of T20 cricket. How do you balance it out? Now, is there any need for bilateral T20s? I don't think so. No need for these one-off T20 matches. Pointless. Yes, you want one-day cricket. Even that can be reduced. You don't have to play five-five matches in a series. Keep the emphasis on World Cups, both in T20s and the 50-over formats. Then let your domestic competitions thrive."
Shastri stressed the need for India's top cricketers to play domestic competitions and hoped that the new FTP cycle, which starts after the World Cup, would help India focus on a building a home season.
"That's where you need balance. You open corridors and India, in the new FTP, are planning to do that, where they play two domestic series at home, which I think is the way to go. Why should only Australia or South Africa or England guarantee themselves of a home season. Why can't India? India has enough muscle to put their foot down and say: at this time of the year, we will play cricket in India. We will not go anywhere else. Take it or leave it."
Shastri also clarified that he will be with the Indian team on a full-time basis during the triangular series in Australia, against the hosts and England, and would use the time between Tests to try and watch more domestic cricket.
"That's where I am going to divide my time leading into the World Cup. That's why I've said I'm going to be in and out during this one-day series. Even during the tour of Australia, if there is some big domestic game happening here, and if I feel there's a need for someone who's been there, [I will watch]," Shastri said. "The team is cut-off. The captain, the coaching staff will be cut-off from what's happening here. It won't be a bad idea for someone to come back, watch a couple of games and then head back. There are gaps between Test matches, and you can make the most of it."
Between 2015 and 2023, India are scheduled to play four five-Test series against England and as many four-Test series against Australia. The former India captain, however, has suggested that Test series in the modern era should not exceed three games.
"I believe that tours should be only three Tests. With the amount of these things that is taking place, you will find that once you go for five-Test match series, 80-90% of the times the home team will win and you will see teams going straight down after the third match," he said. "You saw what happened to England during the Ashes in Australia. I am a firm believer that, in the future, just keep all Test series to three because imagine a side coming to India and they are three-zip down after three Test matches...how much interest is there?
"I am looking at all round, I am looking at a bigger picture, I am looking at the crowd sitting and watching, I am looking at television ratings, I am looking at the way the game is going to the future and how you sustain interest from people who want to watch it and follow it. I firmly believe Test series should never be two Test matches, three is enough. Five, Australia-England for tradition is fine. But I still think five is too much."
