Ravi Shastri has been with Team India for about a year now in the capacity of the team director. His role has been extended for the series in Bangladesh where India are scheduled to play a Test and three ODIs.
The difference, however, will be that on this tour Shastri will also have to carry out various roles of the head coach since the seat vacated by Duncan Fletcher hasn’t yet been filled.
In the pre-departure press conference, Shastri said the team will do fine without a head coach on the Bangladesh tour as there are specialist coaches to assist the players.
"We have got three coaches. I can double up and do the job of a coach if needed. There is no need of another head coach for the tour," he said. "When we come back, I will have a chat with the board. I don't rule out doubling up as the head coach and team director at all. I might be there a lot longer than you think."
The former India captain said he would be open to suggestions from BCCI’s newly created Cricket Advisory Committee comprising Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS LAxman.
"Look at the people in the advisory committee... they come with a lot of quality,” Shastri said. “They have been around for a long time and they can only contribute and take Indian Cricket forward. So, when we come back from Bangladesh I will have a chance to sit with the board and take things from there.”
Coming from the IPL, Shastri felt it would be a challenge for the bowlers to adapt to Test cricket but he hoped the experience behind them will help them cope well.
"Time is short and the players have to very quickly get into the frame of mind (for playing in Tests),” he said. “The good thing is we have got experience; there is youth but there is experience and now we have Harbhajan in the side. He is a world-class operator and he will bring plenty to the plate. It is a question of working as a unit.
With Harbhajan’s return, he is the senior-most member of India’s bowling attack now and many tip him as the leader of the pack. Shastri, however, stressed on the importance of working well as a complete unit rather than one man leading the rest.
"Nobody will be the leader of the pack... it is about the India bowling outfit,” he said. “How quickly the bowlers adapt to the conditions will be crucial and beneficial for the side.”
For former Indian all-rounder also lauded the appointment of Rahul Dravid as the coach of India A and India Under-19 teams.
"I have had a chat with Dravid and there is no better news for Indian cricket than a champion like Rahul in charge of the youngsters. You cannot have a bigger role model than that man and the dedication he has shown towards the game is surely going to benefit the youngsters.
"Being in the senior team I'm extremely happy the conversations will be frank, honest. He will tell us which guys will come up the ranks which will in turn help the senior Indian cricket team,” Shastri said.
