Team Director holds 'informal' meeting of team's support staff without head coach
For some time now, everything about Team India has had a dual feel to it.
Duncan Fletcher is the head coach, Ravi Shastri is the director of cricket. MS Dhoni is the skipper, Virat Kohli is the skipper-in-waiting. In fact, he's already the boss of the Test team. Dhoni is close to Fletcher, Shastri appears to be backing Kohli. That Fletcher's days in the set-up are numbered is known. That Shastri is the 'super boss' of the team is also known.
On Tuesday, a strange piece of news made its way to a section of the media. Who leaked it? Nobody knows. But it's apparently true. But, of course, you'll soon hear stuff like "figment of the media's imagination" and "utter nonsense" from one of the players or coaches. Either way, the first 'spicy' controversy of the World Cup will be upon us. Rather, it already is.
It has emerged that Shastri did not invite Fletcher to an "informal" meeting of the team's coaches on Tuesday. Assistant coaches Sanjay Bangar (batting), Bharat Arun (bowling) and team manager Arshad Ayub met with Shastri to discuss how the team should go about its business against South Africa at the MCG on Sunday. Strangely, neither Dhoni nor Kohli were part of the meeting. As mentioned above, it was an informal meeting of just the coaches. It was held at the team hotel, The Langham Melbourne on Southbank, and lasted about an hour. Around the same time, Fletcher was seen taking a stroll on the banks of the Yarra. Does this development confirm his 'passenger' status? Perhaps.
In fact, several players have admitted to several journalists in private that "Ravi bhai is a great guy". And unlike Fletcher, "he speaks to us in our language". That apart, he "keeps giving us pep talks". And in general, "the communication within the team has improved a great deal" ever since he took over in September last year.
Bring on the 'official' denials.
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