Ravi Sashtri also known as Ravishankar Jayadritha Shastri is a former Indian cricketer and captain, who is presently the Director of Cricket for the Indian cricket team. He has a long journey of 12 years in Indian Cricket. He was an all rounder who batted right-handed and bowled left arm spin. He graduated in Indian cricket, from a batsman, then a bowler, then he became the Captain of Indian Cricket Team and later he became the coach of Indian Cricket Team for Bangladesh Tour.

Early Life of Ravi Sashtri
Ravishankar Jayadritha Shastri was born on 27th May in the year 1962. He belonged to a Kannada Brahmin family from Mangalore. Ravi Shastri studied at Don Bosco High School, Matunga, where he began his cricket career in the interschool competitions. His father, M. Jayadratha Shastri, was a medical doctor; whose father was Dr M C Shastri, a well-known Ayurvedic physician of Mangalore. His mother, Prof. Laksmi Shashtri was a professor in National college, Bandra, Mumbai.

Career of Ravi Sashtri
Ravi Sashtri became a batsman, when he played in national cricket team. He was essentially defensive with his trademark "chapati shot" (a flick off the pads), but he could raise his strike rate when required. Due to his above-average height and an upright stance, he had a limited number of shots against fast bowling, but was able to put the lofted shot to good use against spin bowling. Ravi Shastri played either as an opening batsman or in the middle order.

His career marked excellent, when he was elected Champion of Champions in the World Championship of Cricket in Australia in 1985. In the same season, he equalled West Indian Garry Sobers`s record of hitting six sixes in an over in first class cricket. He was regarded as a potential captain, but his image outside cricket, injuries and tendency to lose form at crucial times meant that he captained India in only one Test match.

Later Career of Ravi Sashtri
Within eighteen months of his Test debut, Ravi Shastri had moved up from tenth position in the batting order to being an opening batsman. The success of Ravi Sashtri continued in Test matches against England Cricket team. In the Bombay Test his 235 run stand with wicket-keeper Syed Kirmani led to the victory of India. His 142 improved upon the 139 at Faisalabad as his highest score.

Test Career of Ravi Sashtri
In the third Test at Kolkata, Ravi Shastri made 111 in 357 balls and 455 minutes, though his innings was heavily interrupted by rain. With Mohammad Azharuddin he added 214 for the fifth wicket, another Indian record. When India started the second innings late in the final day, he was sent in to open, thus becoming one of the few batsmen to bat on all five days of a Test. Ravi Shastri set another record for Bombay Cricket Team against Baroda Cricket Team in a West Zone Ranji match. His first hundred came up in 72 minutes and 80 balls and included nine fours and four sixes. The second took just 41 minutes and 43 balls. His 123 ball, 113 minute 200 not out became the fastest double hundred in first class history, beating the previous record by 7 minutes, and included 13 fours and 13 sixes. Six of the sixes came off a single over of the left arm spinner Tilak Raj. In terms of the number of sixes, it bettered the 58 year old Indian record of CK Nayudu who had struck 11 sixes against a touring MCC team at Bombay Gymkhana in 1926-1967. Shastri`s unfinished sixth wicket stand of 204 not out with Ghulam Parkar, who contributed only 33 to the partnership, took only 83 minutes. In Baroda`s second innings, Shastri took two wickets in four overs.

Batting Career of Ravi Sashtri