Mum's the word as Shastri, Kohli leave for Sri Lanka post Kumble exit

Mumbai: Newly appointed head coach Ravi Shastri brushed the controversy between his predecessor Anil Kumble and Virat Kohli aside, putting Indian cricket ahead of everything else, ahead of Team India’s departure for the Sri Lanka tour, in Mumbai, on Wednesday.

Shastri, who is set to embark on his first tour as the head coach of the Indian cricket team, has had a two-year stint with the Men in Blue as the team director.

Addressing the media ahead of the team’s departure for Sri Lanka, Shastri brushed aside question pertaining to the rift between Kohli and Kumble, which eventually lead to the latter’s resignation last month.

“I have matured since I last went to Sri Lanka. Mine will be a refresh button that will be pushed,” Shastri said. “The team has done exceptionally well. The Ravi Shastris, the Anil Kumbles will go. If the team is number one today, they (the players) deserve the credit. "People will come and go. The fabric of Indian cricket will remain.”

India will be looking to increase their lead at the top of the ICC Test rankings, as they embark on a three-match Test series against the Emerald islanders on July 26.