Gavaskar Prays That 'There's No Clash' Between MS & Shastri After Mahi's Appointment As Mentor For T20 WC

Gavaskar mentioned a 2004 incident of how there was 'insecurity' in the mind of coach John Wright when he was appointed as consultant.

Ravi Shastri (left) and MS Dhoni. (File Photo/ Getty Images)

Sunil Gavaskar is hopeful that there are no disagreements between team India coach Ravi Shastri and newly appointed mentor, MS Dhoni. Mahi was recently appointed as a mentor of the Indian team for the ICC T20 World Cup in October. There have been many shocking reactions from fans and cricket pundits, alike. 

"If there are disagreements between Ravi and Dhoni over tactics and team selection, then that may have an effect on the team. I am just praying there is no clash [between the two]," Gavaskar said on Aaj Tak. "But if Ravi and Dhoni can get on the same wavelength, then it will immensely benefit India," he added. 

To make the fans and spectator understand what he mean, he cited an example from the year 2004. It was the time when Sunil Gavaskar was appointed as a consultant for the Indian team, while John Wright was still the coach of the Indian side. There was little 'insecurity' in Wright's mind if Gavaskar was there to take his place. "I was made a consultant of the team in 2004, that is the current term for mentor. John Wright was nervous, he probably thought I was going to take his place," said Gavaskar. Although, in the same breath, Gavaskar said that the case might be different here as MS Dhoni and Ravi Shastri know each other well.

The Reunion we all have been waiting for 🤝 @msdhoni returns to mentor #TeamIndia for the #T20WorldCup 🙌

How excited are you to see him back? 💙 pic.twitter.com/znPWBLeYNo

— BCCI (@BCCI) September 8, 2021

When asked if Dhoni can be the full-time coach of the Indian team as Ravi Shastri's contract is terminating after the T20 WC, Gavaskar said that there must be a three-year "cooling-off" period after retirement and thus, Dhoni should wait 2-3 years to become India's coach. 

"There is no problem for becoming a mentor but I have been saying that for a former player to become a selector or a coach there should be a cooling-off period of two or three years from his retirement," he said. 

Finally, Gavaskar concluded by saying that India will benefit from the presence of MS Dhoni in the dressing room as under his leadership, "India won the 2011 World Cup and before that the 2007 T20 World Cup."