Shastri enjoyed a memorable international career while playing 80 Tests and 150 ODIs.
One of the biggest names in Indian cricket, Ravi Shastri turned 60-years-old today (May 27) and he had been an immense contributor on and off the field to the country for a long time now. The whole cricketing fraternity including some top names in Indian cricket wished the former Indian cricketer on his birthday and acknowledged his various contributions. Apart from being an international cricketer, Shastri had a huge fan base for his commentary around the world while he also excelled really well in terms of coaching duties post his retirement.
Having made his international debut in 1992, Shastri went on to play 80 Tests and 150 ODIs during the period of 1981 to 1992 and he did captain the country as well. Shastri enjoyed a memorable international career with 6938 runs and 280 wickets in international cricket as a batting all-rounder primarily and he was the first Indian cricketer to hit sixes in an over in a Ranji Trophy game in 1985.
Ravi Shastri’s flair for commentary post-retirement
Shastri started as a lower-order dasher but went on to become a watchful and highly determined opener to score runs for India around the world. The Mumbai born lad was part of India’s maiden World Cup triumph in 1983 and it was a pity that he last played his international game at the age of 30 with so much still to offer. Being one of the boldest gentlemen, Shastri had a flair for passionate words and his commentary stood apart from the rest always.
Here’s how the Twitter erupted on Ravi Shastri’s birthday
Happy birthday @RaviShastriOfc Sir, appreciate your support always. Have a great day and year ahead. God bless you. 🤗 pic.twitter.com/wiJqwfUXt8
— Kuldeep yadav (@imkuldeep18) May 27, 2022
Birthday wishes are optional when you celebrate life daily. 🎂
Enjoy your day, @RaviShastriOfc! 🥳🥛 pic.twitter.com/Ibii4ivLMK
— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) May 27, 2022
Happy Birthday @RaviShastriOfc Bhai! Best wishes, always 👍🏼 pic.twitter.com/lPoOIuInpA
— Ajinkya Rahane (@ajinkyarahane88) May 27, 2022
Wish you a very happy birthday @RaviShastriOfc bhai. Keep rocking the way you do 🕺
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) May 27, 2022
Birthday wishes stay blessed @RaviShastriOfc Have a great year ahead 😘
— Chetan Sharma (@chetans1987) May 27, 2022
A very happy birthday @RaviShastriOfc bhai! Wishing you a year of good health, happiness and success.
— Mayank Agarwal (@mayankcricket) May 27, 2022
230 international matches 👍
6938 runs & 280 wickets in international cricket 👌
1983 World Cup-winner 🏆Birthday wishes to the former #TeamIndia Captain & former India Head Coach @RaviShastriOfc. 🎂 👏 pic.twitter.com/dGZ4Rc03ZR
— BCCI (@BCCI) May 27, 2022
Pick any iconic moment in Indian cricket in last few decades and you’ll find @RaviShastriOfc there. On the field, in the comm box or in the dressing room. Happy Birthday to Indian cricket’s man for all seasons. pic.twitter.com/w1ZYoUtJas
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) May 27, 2022
Happy Birthday Ravi Bhai @RaviShastriOfc . Wishing you good health & happiness always 🙌
— Suresh Raina🇮🇳 (@ImRaina) May 27, 2022
Wish you a very Happy Birthday @RaviShastriOfc sir 🎂Stay Blessed
— Navdeep Saini (@navdeepsaini96) May 27, 2022
Happy birthday to a teammate and a friend who lives & breathes cricket and was always there to discuss cricket with me!
Hope you’re celebrating the day just like the doctor ordered, Ravi! 😉 pic.twitter.com/hi3kU9XbEI
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) May 27, 2022
Celebrated cricketer, revered commentator and an acclaimed coach! Here’s wishing @RaviShastriOfc a very happy birthday. #ThisIs83 #HappyBirthdayRaviShastri pic.twitter.com/v81apsD696
— 83 (@83thefilm) May 27, 2022
Right from the words during MS Dhoni’s winning six in the 2011 World Cup win for India to Yuvraj Singh’s six sixes in an over, Shastri nailed it off the field. In 2014 after the disastrous tour of England, Shastri was chosen as the director of Indian cricket for the next eight months. In 2017, he returned to the coaching setup for India with former skipper Virat Kohli particularly wanting the former in the setup.
Under Shastri’s coaching stint, India reached the number one ranking in Tests for more than a year and India started to dominate the longest format in away tours as well. Last year, Shastri’s tenure as Indian head coach came to an end and Rahul Dravid replaced him in the role.
