Ravi Shastri reveals he was 'disappointed and not surprised' over India cricket coach snub

Former cricketer Ravi Shastri has revealed that he is disappointed at not being chosen as Team India's new coach calling the decision "disappointing but not surprising". Shastri, who was appointed as team director in 20140, oversaw the country's most famous series win when they thrashed the then number one ranked South Africa 3-0.

The 53-year-old was thought of as the favourite to be appointed but the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) consisting of Indian legends Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman, opted to appoint another legend, Anil Kumble, as the new head coach.

"I'm not surprised. I'd say disappointed. It's like planting a tree and then cutting it down just as it's beginning to bear fruit. We'd done the hard work overseas, and now, after the upcoming tour of the West Indies, we have a lengthy home season, where we could have really turned the screws. But it's not to be and that's life", he said, as quoted by Wisden India.

The former all-rounder took charge as team director in 2014, getting the job after India had been thrashed 3-1 in the Test series in England. He helped the team, reach the semi-finals of the ICC T20 World Cup and oversaw India winning their first Test series in Sri Lanka in 22 years, beating them 2-1.

"I'm immensely proud of what we achieved in those 18 months. The boys were at a very low ebb at the time I took over as a team director. From there on we went from strength to strength. We were briefly number one in the Test rankings, No. 2 in ODIs and No.1 in T20s."

Shastri who played five Tests with Anil Kumble in the early 1990's, insisted that there is no bad blood between the two and that he is happy to help whenever called upon.

"Anil called me as soon as the appointment was made. I told him that he has a fantastic bunch of boys to work with, and I'm sure he'll take them to greater heights. He asked me if he could talk further and I said anytime. I wish him only the best", he added.