In India, jealous gang wanted me to fail so I developed thick skin: Former coach Shastri
London(PTI): Robert Key will need to grow a "thick skin" akin to the Dukes ball just like I grew one to counter the "jealous people", former India head coach Ravi Shastri said on how the ex-England opener should go out about his job as ECB's 'Director of Cricket'.
Shastri was at helm of India's coaching staff between 2014 to 2021, save one year in the middle when Anil Kumble was given the charge.
In an interview to UK's 'The Guardian' newspaper, Shastri said that there was a "gang of people in India" who always wanted him to fail.
Just like Shastri, Key has also been an acclaimed commentator for a long time and doesn't have a coaching degree as he tries to ease into a new and very different role.
"I didn't have coaching badges [either]. Level one? Level two? **** that. And in a country like India, there is always jealousy or a gang of people willing you to fail. I had a thick skin, thicker than the leather of the Dukes ball you use. A real solid hide.
"And you need a bloody hide over here. Rob will develop this as he does the job, because every day you are judged. And I am glad he has a lot of captaincy experience from his time at Kent, because communication with the players is absolutely paramount," Shastri was quoted as saying by the British newspaper.
From his own experience of working with the Indian team, Shastri feels that national teams across the cricketing world function in a pretty similar fashion.
"Rob may have more work with the domestic game but, when it comes to the national team, it is very similar. The most important thing is getting among the players and setting a tone from the outset: what you believe in, what you think of them and changing the mindset to compete and win.
"You have to be bullish and brutish in wanting to achieve that. For us, and now England, it was about setting the challenge of winning abroad, big time. I was very firm when it came to team culture: all the prima donnas and all that shit, that had to go out of the window early," Shastri explained.
Outlining the philosophy and team culture is important, according to Shastri and that's what he had drilled in when India beat Australia in two back-to-back away series.
"...it was also outlining how we want to play: to be aggressive and ruthless, to up the fitness levels, to get a group of fast bowlers to take 20 wickets overseas. And it was about attitude, especially when playing the Aussies. I told the boys if one single expletive comes your way, give them three back: two in our language and one in theirs."
Shastri also feels that Key needs to discuss issues with former Test captain Joe Root to understand how it all works.
"Rob will have an adjustment period to understand the issues and will need to speak in detail with Joe Root for his experiences as Test captain. But in my 24 years [commentating], I did not miss a beat or a ball of Indian cricket.
"And he (Key) will have covered a huge amount too. So you're not lagging behind by an inch, you're abreast of what a team requires but also what other teams are doing. You should be able to leapfrog over all those early issues and get into the nitty gritty straight away."
Shastri felt that Ben Stokes would be the ideal choice to take the England team forward.
"The adrenaline of captaincy not that he needs it could fire Stokes up to be something even more than the incredible player he is now. The important relationship is with the captain the moment there is friction, things go downhill.
"But they will be fine because the England I saw last year, they have enough talent and skill to compete. There's no doubt about that in my mind. It's all about their mindset."
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Supreme Court hears batch of petitions challenging Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025
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New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India today began hearing a large batch of petitions challenging the constitutionality of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025. A bench led by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna, along with Justices Sanjay Kumar and KV Viswanathan, commenced the hearing at 2 PM.
Over seventy petitioners have approached the Court, including prominent political leaders such as AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi, Congress MP Md Jawed, RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha, TMC MP Mahua Moitra, and SP MP Zia Ur Rehman. Religious and civil society bodies like the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind, Samastha Kerala Jamiatul Ulema, the Association for Protection of Civil Rights, and the Imam of Jama Masjid Bengaluru have also joined the challenge. Political parties such as DMK, IUML, YSRC Party, CPI, and even Tamil actor Vijay, representing TVK, are among the petitioners.
Several state governments — including Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, Maharashtra, Assam, Uttarakhand, and Chhattisgarh — have filed intervention applications in support of the Amendment. The Central Government has filed a caveat to participate in the proceedings.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justices Sanjay Kumar and K V Viswanathan outlined two aspects.
"There are two aspects we want to ask both the sides to address. Firstly, whether we should entertain or relegate it to the high court? Secondly, point out in brief what you are really urging and wanting to argue?" the CJI said.
"The second point may help us in deciding the first issue to some extent," the CJI added.
The hearing is underway with senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the petitioners' side, making submissions.
Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal argued that the Amendment abolishes the concept of "waqf by user", which he described as integral to the Islamic tradition and recognized in the Ram Janmabhoomi judgment. He also expressed concern over new limitations introduced by the law, saying they would prevent rightful claims on unregistered waqf properties, especially those that are centuries old.
CJI Khanna responded, stating that while limitation periods serve a legal purpose, their impact would be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Sibal also raised objections to changes in the composition and appointment processes of Waqf Boards, alleging that they now amount to a “complete takeover” through nomination, violating Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution.
Senior Advocate CU Singh emphasized the charitable and religious character of waqf institutions and stated that the focus should not be limited to essential religious practices alone under Article 26.
Justice Viswanathan remarked that administration of property, even religious in origin, could be subject to regulation, while cautioning against overuse of the "essential religious practice" doctrine.
CJI Khanna made an informal remark noting concerns over the extent of waqf claims, pointing out that there were reports that the Delhi High Court building itself stands on waqf land. He added that while not all waqf by user claims are invalid, a balance must be struck.
The hearing is ongoing, with arguments expected to continue.
The Centre recently notified the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, which got the assent of President Droupadi Murmu on April 5 after its passage from Parliament following heated debates in both houses.
The bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha with 128 members voting in favour and 95 opposing it. It was cleared by the Lok Sabha with 288 members supporting it and 232 against it.
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