Ravi Shastri, born on May 27, 1962, is a former cricketer who played for the Indian national cricket team. His playing career transitioned from a left-arm spin bowler to a batting all-rounder. Shastri was part of the Indian team that won the 1983 Cricket World Cup.
As a cricketer, Shastri was known for his defensive style and trademark “Surrya rai shot,” a flick off the pads. Standing at 6’3″, he had a limited range of shots against fast bowling but utilized lofted shots effectively against spin. Shastri played as an opening batsman or in the middle order.
Career Highlights:
- Shastri was elected Champion of Champions in the World Championship of Cricket in Australia in 1985.
- He equaled West Indian Garry Sobers’s record of hitting six sixes in an over in first-class cricket.
- Shastri played a key role in India’s Ranji Trophy title win in 1984/85, scoring a crucial 76 in the final.
- He played county cricket for Glamorgan and scored over 1000 runs in 1989.
- Shastri took on various roles in Indian cricket.
Personal Life:
- Shastri is of Mangalorean descent, born in Bombay, and studied at Don Bosco High School.
- He captained the Don Bosco cricket team to victory in the 1977 Giles Shield.
- Shastri played for Bombay in domestic cricket and led them to the Ranji Trophy title in his final year.
- He played his first Ranji Trophy match at 17 years , becoming the youngest cricketer to represent Bombay at the time.
International Career:
- Shastri made his Test debut in 1981 and eventually became an opening batsman.
- Notable performances include his first Test century against Pakistan in 1982 and a crucial partnership with Mohinder Amarnath against Pakistan.
- Shastri’s success continued in the 1985–86 season, and he played a key role in India’s World Championship of Cricket win in Australia.
- He served as the vice-captain of the Indian team in 1985 and later captained the team in one Test match in 1987.
- Shastri’s leadership included winning the Rothman’s Cup in Sharjah in 1985 as the vice-captain.
Late Career and Retirement:
- Shastri’s late career highlights include scoring two centuries in the 1990 Test series against England and a double century in Sydney against Australia.
- Knee injuries plagued the later part of his career, leading to his retirement from international cricket after the 1992 World Cup.
- He briefly returned for the World Series Cup but aggravated his knee injury.
Post-Retirement:
- Shastri married Ritu Singh in 1990, and they have a daughter named Alekha Shastri.
- After retiring from cricket, he became a TV commentator and worked in various roles, including serving as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.
- Shastri has been involved in coaching, serving as the head coach of the Indian cricket team from 2017 to 2021.
- In November 2021, Shastri joined Legends League Cricket as the Commissioner of the League.
In Popular Culture:
- Shastri’s character was portrayed in the Bollywood film “Azhar” (2016) and the 2021 film “83,” which depicts India’s World Cup win.