Ravi Shastri reveals how a 'huge problem' forced him to apply for India coach job

New Indian cricket team head coach Ravi Shastri has revealed he only applied for the job after he realised that there was a 'huge problem' to be tackled. Shastri, of course, had thrown his hat into the ring much after the likes of Virender Sehwag and Tom Moody.

In an interview with Mid-Day, Shastri spoke about how he changed his mind after initially deciding not to apply. "I didn't apply in the first place. What did make me apply was when I realised that there was a huge problem there. Initially, I didn't realise the gravity (of the situation) and if it (the problem) was there from the very beginning and I knew about it, I would've applied in the first place," he said.

"Therefore, when the BCCI reopened the (application window), I gave it a thought and said to myself, 'you must (apply) because you have been instrumental in (the appointment of) your support staff and have seen where your team has risen to. Now, you can also see in front of your eyes that there is a problem, so instead of backing away from it, take it head on."

Shastri also said he didn't really need to mend bridges with former India captain Sourav Ganguly - with whom he had a fairly public fallout last year - to get the job. "I don't look at it in that fashion. The committee was chosen to appoint a head coach and they did their job," he said.

Shastri has no qualms about working alongside Zaheer Khan and Rahul Dravid either. He believes fresh ideas should always be welcomed since they can trigger off better things. The Mumbaikar, though, said he needs to have a 'good chat' with skipper Virat Kohli to determine the working dynamics of of the support staff.

Shastri plans to adopt a more hands-off approach to the role than his predecessor Anil Kumble, with the 55-year-old saying he has no intention of trying to act as a tutor the players. Kumble stepped down last month citing a breakdown in his relationship with skipper Virat Kohli, who according to media reports, resented the former captain's 'headmasterly' methods.

Shastri was handed the coaching reigns on Tuesday, a year after losing the job to Kumble, and the former all-rounder promised a fresh outlook to the job. "At the highest level, cricketers are more or less settled," Shastri told the Times of India newspaper.

"So it is more to do with working on their mental strength, helping build their confidence, helping them stay organised in their daily activities as against tinkering with their style of play. It's not about 'tutoring' them about everything and telling them what and what not to do. There's very little coaching at the highest level. It's about fine-tuning and mentoring, about effective communication."

Shastri, who has served as team director in the past, enjoys a good rapport with Kohli and said he had no issues with players having more freedom off the field. "Why should I change anyone's style, or for that matter, why should anyone change his own style of doing things? As long as there's a level of commitment, the hard yards are being put in and results are showing, why shouldn't there be fun?"

The Indian cricket board has also named former seamer Zaheer Khan as the team's bowling consultant, while Rahul Dravid was appointed as batting consultant for overseas test series. The first challenge for the new coaching set-up will begin later this month when India tour Sri Lanka for three tests, five one-dayers and a sole Twenty20 international.

(Inputs from Reuters)