Ravi Shastri on his future as India coach: I believe in never overstaying your welcome

India head coach Ravi Shastri is ready to step away from his position after the upcoming T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates. The former India all-rounder’s contract will expire after the showpiece tournament and Shastri is in no mood to carry on either.

The 59-year-old, who recently recovered from Covid-19, is satisfied with whatever he’s achieved in the last 5 years at his job and now wants to go out on a high by winning the T20 World Cup.

“I believe so because I’ve achieved all I wanted. Five years as No 1 [in Test cricket], to win in Australia twice, to win in England.

“We’ve also beaten every country in the world in their own backyard in white-ball cricket. If we win the [T20] World Cup that will be the icing on the cake. There is nothing more.

“I believe one thing never overstay your welcome. And I would say that, in terms of what I wanted to get out of the side, I’ve over-achieved,” Shastri told The Guardian.

Despite the success in red-ball cricket, Shastri has often come under fire whenever India has not performed to potential in the limited-overs formats. But criticism comes with the job and Shastri says having a ‘hide like leather’ has helped him over the years.

“You know, being the coach of India is like being the football coach of Brazil or England. There’s always this gun pointing at you. Always.

“You might have six great months and then you get out for 36 and they will shoot you. Then you have to win immediately. Otherwise they will eat into you, right through. You need a hide like mine, absolutely like leather, so it doesn’t make a difference,” Shastri said.