As expected, former India Team Director Ravi Shastri has decided to throw his hat into the ring to become Indian cricket team’s next coach, a post that has fallen vacant following the exit of Anil Kumble.   

The former Team Director of the side is expected to apply for the post of the head coach in a few days. The BCCI had decided to extend the deadline till July 9, apparently to invite applications from “deserving” candidates who didn’t apply earlier thinking Kumble would be an automatic choice to continue in the post.

“Yes, Ravi is very interested and will be applying for the coach’s post very soon,” a source close to Shastri said on Tuesday.

It’s learnt that the former India all-rounder would apply only if he gets an assurance that he would be picked for the job with a full two-year contract till the 2019 World Cup to boot. However, Shastri has denied making such a demand.

The former India captain is also expected to make sure that he gets his own team of support staff, including bowling coach Bharath Arun.

Shastri, who was the Team Director from August 2014 to June 2016, was replaced by spin legend Kumble, who stepped down due to his differences with skipper Virat Kohli after the Champions Trophy.

It must be noted that Shastri is Kohli’s preferred choice for the coach’s job.