Ravi Shastri: Big impact on Indian cricket on the field, as a coach and a commentator

Ravi Shastri was a tall left arm spinner and a technically correct batsman. Shastri played for Don Bosco High School, Matunga and went onto make the Indian Under 19 team. He made his first class debut for Mumbai in 1979 at the age of 17

Shastri made his Test debut against New Zealand in Wellington in 1981. He become a fixture in both the Test and ODI formats for India, with his useful all round skills. He was a member of the World Cup winning team of 1983.

Shastri was elected Champion of Champions in the World Championship of Cricket in Australia in 1985.

In January 1985, he equalled West Indian Sir Garry Sobers‘s record of hitting six sixes in an over in first class cricket.

In 1986, Shastri played a key role in the Madras Tied Test against Australia. In the second innings, Shastri played an aggressive knock of 48 not out, from 40 balls and took India within touching distance of an improbable win. He was stranded at the non strikers end when Maninder Singh was given out LBW to seal the second Tie in Test history.

Shastri captained the Indian team in a Test against the Windies in 1987 when then-captain Dilip Vengsarkar fractured his arm.

In 80 Tests, Shastri made 3830 runs and took 151 wickets.

After retirement in 1992, Shastri took up coaching and commentary work. He made his debut as a TV commentator with the World Masters Tournament in Mumbai in March 1995. He was the Indian coach in 2007 and Team Director from 2014.

Source: CricketCrowd Staff Reporter