Former captain Ravi Shastri was on Tuesday named the new head coach of India for a two-year period, ending weeks of speculation over the high-profile job after Anil Kumble’s dramatic exit.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India also appointed ex-paceman Zaheer Khan as the bowling consultant and Rahul Dravid as batting consultant for overseas tours.
“The term of the appointments will be till the World Cup 2019,” the BCCI said in a late night release.
Shastri, 55, edged out five high-profile names including batting great Virender Sehwag, Australia’s Tom Moody, Englishman Richard Pybus and former India manager Lalchand Rajput, who were interviewed in Mumbai on Monday.
And Twitter was abuzz with opinion, but more importantly, jokes too.
Virat gets his man Shastri, Cricket Advisory Committee get their men Zaheer Khan and Rahul Dravid on board. Balancing act...everyone happy!
— Digvijay Singh Deo (@DiggySinghDeo) July 11, 2017
If @bcci want a consultant for: a) dosa in madras b) pav bhaji in bombay c) draught beer in bangalore d) mishti doi in Calcutta, I'm ready.
— Anand Vasu (@anandvasu) July 11, 2017
Does this add up: Sachin-Shastri; Ganguly-Zaheer; Laxman-Dravid. 1 for each. Decision #IndianCricket ishtyle #liveandletlive
— V Krishnaswamy (@Swinging_Swamy) July 11, 2017
What's an overseas batting consultant?!
— Arundhati Chatterjee (@TheBongBox) July 11, 2017
What's the key role of the designation?#RahulDravid #BCCImakesDesigs
So ZaK and Jam are in. Great news. But , but, they r more stricter and serious than even Anil kumble. Bad news, no??
— neeru bhatia (@neerubhatia3) July 11, 2017
Zaheer Khan ~ Handle Bowling department#RahulDravid ~ Handle Batting on foreign tours#RaviShastri ~ Enjoy the free tour package
— ChaatStation (@ChaatStation) July 11, 2017
Ravi Shastri is coach.
— Sorabh Pant (@hankypanty) July 11, 2017
Zaheer Khan is bowling coach.
Rahul Dravid is batting coach.
Like a tracer bullet - one of those doesn't make sense.
If Zaheer Khan Will Take Care Of Bowling,#RahulDravid Will Take Care Of Batting,What Is #RaviShastri Taken For? To Take Care Of After-party?
— Sir Ravindra Jadeja (@SirJadeja) July 11, 2017
Breaking: no coach for wicket keeping, fielding, tweeting, post-match media conference. It seems. Until now. https://t.co/cKGvKl88TV
— Shantanu Datta (@desktopdiarist) July 11, 2017
Sad for Sehwag ,
— SRK's WARRIOR (@SRKsWarrior1__) July 11, 2017
there is no such post as head bakchod or bakchodi coach . https://t.co/ZHeP8gbdIe
So Shastri is what? Coach co-ordinator?
— mayuresh modak (@mayureshmodak) July 11, 2017
Zaheer Khan ~ Handle Bowling department
— Aagam Shah (@aagamgshah) July 11, 2017
Rahul Dravid ~ Handle Batting on foreign tours#RaviShastri ~ Enjoy the free tour package