Ravi Shastri reopens old wound, reveals why 2016 India coach job snub still hurts

Former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri has reopened the chapter on the 2016 snub for the national team’s top coaching job. In recent remarks, he said there was some motive behind the decision to overlook him for the role and that the hurt from that moment persists. Shastri avoided naming individuals, but his comments suggested that the selection process behind the appointment was influenced by factors beyond merit as he understood them. The remarks revive a long-running debate over how selection decisions are made within Indian cricket administration and coaching circles. Shastri emphasized that his self-belief in his abilities remained intact, noting that the episode did not derail his career but left a lasting sting that informed his perspective on leadership and team performance. He highlighted that the snub shaped how he approached duties whenever he later took charge, focusing on merit, performance, and unity. The report notes that the coach’s candid reflection adds to the wider conversation about accountability and transparency in appointment processes. While the 2016 episode is a footnote in the broader arc of Shastri’s career, his reflections are being read in the context of his contributions to Indian cricket and the ongoing discourse about how elite coaching roles are filled, particularly by Indian professionals.