Team India coach: List of Ravi Shastri's challengers grows, Lalchand Rajput applies amid ban on Zimbabwe

As the last date for the application of team India's head coach position nears, a handful of applicants have thrown their hats into the ring in order to try their luck to get the prestigious role for the Men in Blue. The latest to join the fray is former Indian cricketer Lalchand Rajput. 

Rajput is the current coach of the banned Zimbabwe team and has previously coached Afghanistan and the domestic side of Assam. He was the manager of the Indian team that lifted the inaugural Twenty 20 World Cup in 2007. According to reports, it is believed that Rajput has requested the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to consider himself for the position of batting coach if not for the head coach. 

The former Mumbai opener considered the job for the Men in Blue after ICC banned Zimbabwe from playing after failing to keep government influence away from the game. 

READ | Virat Kohli On Ravi Shastri: Will Be Happy With Ravi Bhai Continuing As Team India Coach

Other applicants

Former Indian cricketer Robin Singh, who has held various coaching positions over the years, has said that he would have retained skipper Virat Kohli to play at the number four position during the semi-final clash against New Zealand at the 2019 World Cup at England. The former Indian cricketer revealed that he would have played any other top-order batsman, like Mayank Agarwal, at the number three position, with Virat Kohli at number four and MS Dhoni at number five. Singh said that the batting order had sufficient back-up with the likes of big hitters such as Ravindra Jadeja, Hardik Pandya, and Rishab Pant who had the ability to finish the game for the side. 

The Team India Coach Hunt

Ever since the gates were thrown open for a new coach, applicants featuring the likes of former Sri Lankan skipper Mahela Jayawardene, Mike Hesson and Tom Moody have thrown their hats into the ring, in an attempt to get the prestigious job as the coach of the Men in Blue. The existing contract with Ravi Shastri and his support staff is all-set to expire after India's tour of West Indies and the hunt for the new staff has already begun.

Current head coach Ravi Shastri has had a successful tenure with the Men in Blue and has in fact spoken about the team's consistent performance since he took over the reins of the team. Further, Shastri's earlier stint with the Men in Blue as the director of the team was also a success story. However, India has lost matches at crucial junctures, mainly at the knockout stages of big tournaments. 

READ | Robin Singh Applies For India Coach, Makes Big Virat Kohli-No 4 Claim & Critiques Ravi Shastri's Record