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Ravi Shastri Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 1, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth27 May 1962

Age62 Years

BirthplaceBombay (now Mumbai), Maharashtra, India

ProfessionFormer Indian Cricketer, Cricket Coach

NationalityIndian

Marital statusDivorced

SpouseRitu Singh (Ex)

FamilyFather - M. Jayadratha Shastri; Mother - Lakshmi Shastri

Ravi Shastri Biography

Ravishankar Jayadritha "Ravi" Shastri is a former Indian cricketer and coach from Mumbai who enjoyed a long international playing career, later becoming a高

Early life and background

Ravishankar Jayadritha Shastri was born on 27 May 1962 in Bombay (now Mumbai), Maharashtra. He grew up in Mumbai, attended Don Bosco High School in Matunga and went on to study commerce at Ramniranjan Anandilal Podar College of Commerce and Economics. He is Indian by nationality and his parents are M. Jayadratha Shastri and Lakshmi Shastri.

Career

Shastri emerged as a cricketer at a young age. He was selected for Bombay in the Ranji Trophy while still at college, becoming the youngest player to represent the state at that time. A tall all-rounder who stood around 1.91 m (6'3"), he made his Test debut on 21 February 1981 against New Zealand in Wellington and his One-Day International debut on 25 November 1981 versus England at Ahmedabad. He retired from both Test and ODI cricket in December 1992 following tours of South Africa.

On the domestic front, Shastri represented Bombay and also played for Glamorgan. He bowled and batted in many positions during his career, by the end having batted in every position from one through ten. Early in his Test career he was promoted to open the batting and established himself as an aggressive presence on the field. He is remembered for a number of standout performances: a maiden over to Geoff Howarth in Test cricket, a Ranji Trophy double century scored very quickly in first-class cricket, and a string of effective bowling displays including a nine-wicket match haul in the Irani Trophy and a five-for in the World Series Cup against Australia.

A key turning point in Shastri's playing career came during the World Championship of Cricket in Australia, where he scored 182 runs and took eight wickets across the series and was awarded the Man of the Series. The victory in that tournament also brought him a championship prize, an Audi 100, which he later had restored and displayed.

After retiring as a player, Shastri moved into coaching and commentary. He served as a temporary coach for India on the 2007 Bangladesh tour and was appointed head coach of the Indian national team on 11 July 2017. Beyond coaching, he became widely known and respected as a cricket commentator, where his calm, measured voice and perspective made him one of the more prominent voices in international cricket broadcasting.

Public profile

Shastri has been associated with on-field aggression as a playing style and a fondness for matches against Australia. He has cited batsmen like Sachin Tendulkar, Viv Richards and Virat Kohli and bowlers such as Shane Warne and Imran Khan among his favourites. His trademark batting stroke was often called the "chapati shot," played off the pads. He has also been described as a slow scorer at times but drew admiration for his tall, solid presence at the crease.

Off the field, Shastri has listed music and golf among his hobbies. He has served as a National Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF and has continued to be active in cricket through coaching and commentary roles.

Personal life

Shastri married Ritu Singh, a classical dancer, in 1990; the couple later divorced in 2012. He has a daughter, Aleka Shastri, born in 2008. His personal life and public statements have occasionally drawn media attention and controversy. He has acknowledged tobacco and alcohol use in the past.

Latest updates

Among the more recent public notes is the restoration and display of the gold-coloured Audi 100 he won as part of the champion team in the 1985 World Championship of Cricket. His coaching appointment in July 2017 as head coach of the Indian team remains a notable milestone in his post-playing career.
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Recent Work

Head Coach, Indian National Cricket Team

Appointed as the head coach of India's national cricket team on 11 July 2017; previously served as temporary coach for the 2007 Bangladesh tour.

2017
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Career Highlights

  1. Youngest player selected for Bombay's Ranji Trophy team while still at college
  2. Test debut: 21 February 1981 vs New Zealand (Wellington)
  3. ODI debut: 25 November 1981 vs England (Ahmedabad)
  4. Man of the Series in the World Championship of Cricket (Australia) for 182 runs and 8 wickets
  5. Nine wickets for 101 runs in the Irani Trophy
  6. Fastest double century in first-class history at the time (123 balls) in a West Zone Ranji match
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Ravi Shastri born?

27 May 1962

What is Ravi Shastri known for?

Former Indian Cricketer, Cricket Coach

What is Ravi Shastri’s marital status?

Divorced

Who is Ravi Shastri married to?

Ritu Singh (Ex)