'So, I think the best thing that has happened is talking cricket amongst the team members and they had no choice, so they were forced to do it and that's been a big help.'
Outgoing head coach Ravi Shastri and skipper Virat Kohli, who will lead the country for one last time in the shortest format, would aim to finish India's underwhelming T20 World Cup campaign on a positive note with a victory over Namibia in the team's final Super 12 match here on Monday.
The BCCI's 'be present in person for interview' clause for picking selectors has been born out of a strong desire to avoid a Ravi Shastri-like fiasco in the future. Clause 11 of selection criteria put up by the Indian Cricket Board states "candidates should be willing to appear for personal interview", indicating that the BCCI learnt its lesson from the controversy that broke in the aftermath of interviews for the Indian coach's job. Shastri had appeared for his personal interview via video conferencing.
His consistent run in domestic cricket and the Indian Premier League notwithstanding, Suryakumar Yadav did not feature in India's white-ball squad named for the series against Australia on Monday.
Jadeja hit his 15th fifty in the longest format of the game on Monday in the Boxing Day Test against Australia.
Ravi Shastri was retained as the Team Director of the Indian cricket team till the 2016 T20 World Cup at home, based on the recommendations of the BCCI advisory committee.
Kohli backed Ravi Shastri to continue as India head coach
The upcoming World T20 could turn out to be Ravi Shastri's last assignment as team director with the Board of Control for Cricket in India hinting that India may appoint a coach for the national team after the mega-event.
The Mumbai Cricket Association's (MCA) managing committee will discuss Wankhede Stadium curator Sudhir Naik's complaint of verbal abuse against Indian Team Director Ravi Shastri on October 30, in Mumbai.
Captain Kohli and Coach Shastri's selection choices for the first two Tests against England, which India lost, were bizarre. Why, for instance, did they drop Umesh Yadav and include Kuldeep Yadav for a seaming track at Lord's? Instinct, gentlemen, can't overrule logic. Time we helped Messrs Kohli and Shastri pick the side for the Trent Bridge Test. What changes must India make for the must-win third Test?
Rohit (left hamstring) and Ishant (side strain) are at the NCA undergoing rehabilitation, but the BCCI is yet to announce when the duo would reach Australia.
Former India pacer Paras Mhambrey, one of the brains behind India's highly-successful India 'A' and Under-19 team programmes, has applied for the position of the senior squad's bowling coach on Monday, BCCI sources revealed.
'The most important thing is that they will always have my back. Aim to make it a happy and secure dressing room.'
Graciously skirting the controversy surrounding the snub Ravi Shastri received during his job interview, the newly-appointed Indian coach Anil Kumble on Wednesday said it's the players who are the most significant part of the system and no one else.
BCCI president Sourav Ganguly rubbished, as pure speculation, allegations that he would be vindictive towards chief coach Ravi Shastri.
Success in ICC events has eluded India in recent years and the team failed to reach the semi-finals of the recently-concluded T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates and Oman.
With the new Board of Control for Cricket in India bosses meeting on Wednesday, speculation is rife that Team India Director Ravi Shastri will be replaced by former India captain Sourav Ganguly.
Devdutt Padikkal seems to have impressed two of the most important figures in Indian cricket after the opener's whirlwind century powered Royal Challengers Bangalore to their fourth successive win in the Indian Premier League on Thursday.
Cricket Australia has responded positively to India coach Ravi Shastri's request for more warm-up matches ahead of their Test series Down Under later this year.
Kapil assured that his panel will do their job to the best of their ability.
Will Ravi Shastri be retained or will the BCCI opt for a new face?
Team India coach Ravi Shastri has rubbished all talk of Dhoni retiring.
As many as four world-class match-winners are expected to bid adieu to the game one by one in the next couple of years and Gautam Gambhir is in an unenviable position as head coach.
Indian team's head coach Ravi Shastri gave the young wicketkeeper-batsman tips to work on specific skill sets ahead of the 11th edition of Indian Premier League.
"They (CAC) have applied themselves to the cause at hand with dedication and commitment. This is exactly what we had expected from a committee of such distinguished cricketers. On behalf of all interested in 'Cricket India', BCCI and the COA, I thank them for the service so willingly rendered by them. We accept their recommendation in totality."
Shastri drew a parallel between Samson and Rohit Sharma, highlighting the importance of Samson realising his full potential.
Shastri and Kohli were told that the Indian team is being provided each and every facility that it has sought and its performances on the field should match that input.
India coach Ravi Shastri on Monday said Virat Kohli and Co. should have landed in South Africa earlier to acclimatise and called for more preparatory time ahead of overseas tours in the future.
India coach Ravi Shastri offered some 'words of wisdom' to the 18-year-old left-arm fast bowler.
The reappointed Ravi Shastri says his primary endeavour will be facilitating a smooth transition by the time he leaves the scene.
India are a flexible side with enough ammunition in their arsenal going into the World Cup, says head coach Ravi Shastri, making it clear that combinations would depend on conditions.
The former Indian captain was upset on learning about media reports that a support staff meeting was held without Fletcher being present.
Apart from Kapil Dev, the panel comprises former women's captain Shantha Rangaswamy and former men's coach Anshuman Gaekwad.
'Before Shastri's induction, things were sketchy and it was not known who was responsible for taking cricketing decisions around the team. The selectors chose a squad of players, the captain ran the show on the field and the coaches helped draft plans, or sort of tried to. There needed to be one man who could coordinate all elements around the squad -- someone who had the backing of the Board, the respect of the players and that of the support staff.'
India head coach Ravi Shastri on Friday dispelled doubts about Mahendra Singh Dhoni's future, stating that the stalwart is not even "half finished yet" and is very much in the scheme of things for the 2019 World Cup in England.
What are your thoughts on Shastri continuing as Team Director till the World Cup? Should the BCCI retain him?
'If I'm bowling well, it transfers to my batting and vice versa.'
According to reports, the BCCI's cricket advisory committee, comprising Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman, has asked Dravid about his interest in the big job.
Senior Board of Control for Cricket in India functionary Rajeev Shukla says the decision to give Team Director Ravi Shastri an extension till the 2016 World Cup was based on his good performance and rapport with the players.
