Ravishankar Jayadritha Shastri, born on 27th May 1962, served as the former head coach of the India national cricket team and is currently recognized as a cricket commentator. In his playing days, spanning from 1981 to 1992, Shastri represented the India national cricket team in both Test matches and One Day Internationals. Initially known for his skills as a left-arm spin bowler, he underwent a transformation into a formidable batting all-rounder.
A pivotal member of the Indian squad, Shastri contributed significantly to the team’s triumph in the 1983 Cricket World Cup. Notably, on 24th January 2024, he was honored with the prestigious C.K Naydu lifetime achievement award at the Indian cricket team’s annual award show, NAMAN.
Shastri’s playing style was characterized by a predominantly defensive approach, featuring his trademark “Surrya rai shot” – a flick off the pads. Despite this defensive inclination, he showcased the ability to escalate his strike rate when the situation demanded. Standing at an above-average height of 6 feet 3 inches with an upright stance, his range of shots against fast bowling was somewhat limited. However, he compensated by effectively employing lofted shots against spin bowling. Whether as an opening batsman or in the middle order, Ravi Shastri left an indelible mark on the cricketing landscape.
Ravi Shastri Cricketer Biography
| Bio | |
| Full Name | Ravishankar Jayadritha Shastri |
| Nickname | Ravi |
| Profession | Former Indian Cricketer, Cricket Coach |
| Physical Stats & More | |
| Height (approx.) | in centimeters- 191 cm in meters- 1.91 m in Feet Inches- 6’ 3” |
| Weight (approx.) | in Kilograms- 92 kg in Pounds- 203 lbs |
| Body Measurements (approx.) | – Chest: 44 Inches – Waist: 36 Inches – Biceps: 16 Inches |
| Eye Colour | Black |
| Hair Colour | Black |
| Cricket | |
| International Debut | Test– 21 February 1981 vs New Zealand at Wellington ODI– 25 November 1981 vs England at Ahmedabad |
| International Retirement | Test– 26 December 1992 vs South Africa at Port Elizabeth ODI– 17 December 1992 vs South Africa at Durban |
| Coach/Mentor | BD Desai, VS “Marshall” Patil, Hemu Adhikari |
| Domestic/State Team | Bombay, Glamorgan |
| Nature on field | Aggressive |
| Likes to play against | Australia |
| Favourite Shot | Chapati Shot |
| Records (main ones) | • When he was selected to play Ranji Trophy for Bombay, he was then the youngest cricketer to play for Bombay. • His first over was a maiden in Test Cricket and that too to the New Zealand captain Geoff Howarth. • In 1981 Irani Trophy, he took 9 wickets for 101 runs, which had been a tournament record for nearly twenty years. • He took 5 wickets for 15 runs against Australia in a match of World Series Cup which was then the best bowling record by an Indian. |
| Career Turning Point | When he got Man of the Series award for his 182 runs and 8 wickets against Australia in the World Championship of Cricket |
| Personal Life | |
| Date of Birth | 27 May 1962 |
| Age (as of 2022) | 60 Years |
| Birthplace | Bombay (now Mumbai), Maharashtra, India |
| Zodiac sign | Gemini |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Hometown | Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
| School | Don Bosco High School, Matunga, Mumbai, India |
| College | Ramniranjan Anandilal Podar College of Commerce and Economics. Matunga, Mumbai, India |
| Educational Qualifications | Studied Commerce at College Level |
| Family | Father– M. Jayadratha Shastri Mother– Lakshmi Shastri Brother– N/A Sister– N/A |
| Religion | Hindu |
| Hobbies | Music, Playing Golf |
| Controversies | • In a Tehelka sting operation, Ravi Shastri had said a number of foul things against Azharuddin. • In 2016, he lashed out at Sourav Ganguli when his candidature was rejected for the post of India Team’s coach. |
| Favourites | |
| Cricketer | Batsman: Sachin Tendulkar, Viv Richards and Virat Kohli Bowler: Shane Warne and Imran Khan |
| Food | Kakori Kebab, Nawabi Fish Tikka |
| Girls, Family & More | |
| Marital Status | Divorced |
| Affairs/Girlfriends | Amrita Singh, Actress |
| Wife | Ritu Singh (a classical dancer; married 1990; div. 2012) |
| Children | Daughter– Aleka Shastri (born 2008) |
| Money Factor | |
| Salary (as the Head Coach of the Indian National Cricket Team) | Rs. 9.5-10 Crore (as in 2019) |
Ravi Shastri Cricketer Personal life
Shastri, born in Bombay, hails from a Mangalorean background. His cricket journey began during his teenage years at Don Bosco High School. Participating in the 1976 inter-school Giles Shield, Shastri, representing Don Bosco (Matunga), reached the final but was defeated by St Mary’s. Notably, St Mary’s boasted future Ranji players, Shishir Hattiangadi and Jignesh Sanghani. The following year, under Shastri’s captaincy, Don Bosco achieved a historic victory by winning the Giles Shield in 1977.
Shastri’s early cricket mentor at school was B. D. Desai, a former Tatas and Dadar Union player. Despite Don Bosco not being a traditional powerhouse in schools cricket, the R. A. Podar College, where Shastri pursued commerce later on, produced several skilled cricketers. Key figures in Shastri’s cricket development included Vasant Amladi and, notably, V. S. “Marshall” Patil.
Ravi Shastri Cricketer Carrer Domestic & International career
In his final year at junior college, he earned a spot in the Bombay team for the Ranji Trophy at the age of 17 years and 292 days, becoming the youngest cricketer to represent Bombay at that time.
Ravi Shastri’s Early Career In 1980–81, an Indian under-19 team was set to tour Pakistan. Shastri, added to the coaching camp at the eleventh hour by National Coach Hemu Adhikari, not only captained one of the trial game teams but was also appointed to lead the Indian Under-19 squad. Unfortunately, the Pakistan tour was canceled, and the team later headed to Sri Lanka, where rain frequently disrupted the games.
During his initial two Ranji seasons, Shastri’s notable achievement was recording bowling figures of 6-61 in the 1979–80 Ranji final against Delhi, a match Bombay lost. While playing against Uttar Pradesh in the following season at Kanpur, he received a call-up to join the squad touring New Zealand as a replacement for the injured left-arm spinner Dilip Doshi. Arriving in Wellington the night before the first Test, Shastri bowled a maiden over to the New Zealand captain Geoff Howarth. In the second innings, he took three wickets in four balls, all caught by Dilip Vengsarkar, hastening the conclusion of the New Zealand innings. His outstanding performance continued in the third Test, where he claimed seven wickets, earning him the man of the match award. Shastri’s 15 wickets in the series stood as the highest for either side.
In a span of eighteen months since making his Test debut, Shastri ascended from the tenth spot in the batting order to become an opening batsman. Wisden noted his “calm, sensible batting lower in the order” during his initial series, stating that it hinted at his potential to evolve into a valuable all-rounder, with his fielding skills being an added asset. Over the course of his career, Shastri showcased versatility by batting in every position from one to ten. Despite his own admission that he prioritized batting over bowling, his performances reflected this choice. Notably, his impressive figures of 9–101 in the 1981 Irani Trophy opener stood as a tournament record for nearly two decades.
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