Shastri sees his future in the media but wouldn’t say no to IPL coaching
Former India coach Ravi Shastri says that he would not turn down a job coaching an Indian Premier League franchise.
Shastri recently relinquished the post of India head coach, a position he held from 2017 until the 2021 T20 World Cup.
That spell and his previous work as India’s team director means that he is yet to enjoy a stint as an IPL coach.
For that reason, Shastri says he wouldn’t be able to turn down a job with an IPL franchise.
“If I get the opportunity, I will definitely do it. There are no two ways about that. It will be a great experience. Something I have not tried and I relish challenges. I will go in that direction, for sure,” Shastri said in an interview with NDTV.
There will be two new IPL franchises for the 2022 campaign which means that opportunities for coaches and backroom staff will abound and Shastri may yet be approached.
There have been reports that Shastri has already been lined up by one of the new franchises but the former India supremo has refuted these claims.
Shastri sees his future in the media but wouldn’t say no to IPL coaching
Before he became involved with the India national team, Shastri was a broadcaster of some repute, enjoying commentary stints with various TV companies across the globe.
Shastri wants to get back into media
The former India boss has indicated that he believes his future lies in cricket media rather than direct coaching involvement.
“The sporting fraternity, since I left the game and went to broadcasting for 23 years, has opened up that massively, five fingers will not fit, you need ten,” he added.
“But I am good enough with five and it will be everything connected to cricket because whatever I am, it is because of the game and in many ways, the BCCI, because they are the custodians of the sport in India. But the media space is exploding and I think I fit in there.”
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The schedule for the 2022 IPL is yet to be confirmed, but it is expected to return to its customary April – May window and should also be staged within the borders of India.