Ravi Shastri is a former Indian cricketer, commentator, and coach.
He played for the Indian national team from 1981 to 1992, starting as a left-arm spin bowler before becoming a batting all-rounder.
This former captain is known for his defensive style and signature “chapati stroke,”. This technique allowed him to accelerate his strike rate when necessary.
Shastri’s career peaked in 1985 when he was named the Champion of Champions at the World Championship in Australia where he equalled the record of six sixes in an over.
Although considered a future captain, he led India in only one Test due to injuries and off-field controversies.
Shastri retired at 31 due to a persistent knee injury after captaining Bombay to a Ranji Trophy title and playing county cricket for Glamorgan.
Post-retirement, he became a commentator for BCCI and served as director and later head coach of the Indian team from 2014 to 2021.
He developed a close relationship with Virat Kohli, as the two bonded over their aggressive batting styles during Kohli’s captaincy days.
This coach-captain partnership lasted till 2021 and felt like the end of an era.
Now let us move on to some personal details from Ravi Shastri’s life.
Ravi Shastri and Amrita Singh: A Serious Affair
Shastri was undoubtedly one of the most good-looking cricketers of the 80s.
He made headlines not just because of his on-field performance but also because of his steamy affairs with well-known Bollywood actresses.
Not many people know, but Ravi Shastri was in a long-term serious relationship with actor Amrita Singh before she was married to Saif Ali Khan.
Amrita Singh was at the peak of her career when this steamy affair was ongoing.
She was the leading lady in major films such as Mard, Chameli Ki Shaadi, Khudgarz, Naam, Aaina, Toofan and many more. She also won the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for her film Aaina in 1993.
Ravi and Amrita were deeply in love and often made their romance public, even appearing on the Cine Blitz magazine cover in the 1986, November edition.
This bold step was like a public announcement of an engagement between the two in 1986.
However, the engagement did not culminate in marriage and tragically ended when Shastri demanded Amrita to quit acting once they got married.
Shastri was born into a middle-class Hindu family in Mumbai, and he carried his family’s orthodox values in him.
He ended this long-term relationship with Amrita as he didn’t want to marry an actress. Shastri prioritised his family’s wishes over his romantic aspirations.
Ravi Shashtri Marries Ritu Singh
After their split, Shastri married Ritu Singh, a doctor and his childhood friend in 1990, and Amrita Singh got married to Saif Ali Khan in 1991.
Ritu and Shastri gave birth to a daughter, Aleka Shastri and Amrita and Saif gave birth to Sara and Ibrahim Ali Khan.
However, both these couples failed to sustain their marriages.
Saif and Amrita got divorced in 2004 after 13 years of marriage.
Subsequently, Ritu and Ravi Shastri parted ways in 2012, after 22 years of marriage. The couple remains amicable to date.
Ravi Shastri and Nimrat Kaur
The story doesn’t end here. In 2018, rumours of Shastri’s relationship with actress Nimrat Kaur circulated.
Ravi Shastri was the head coach of the Indian Cricket Team at the time.
Nimrat Kaur is a well-known Bollywood actress who garnered acclaim and fame for movies like Lunchbox featuring legendary Irrfan Khan, Airlift starring Akshay Kumar and the American television series Homeland.
Nimrat was aged forty and Shastri was aged sixty when this alleged relationship caused whispers around the town.
Apparently, the two had met at the Audi automobile brand event and caught each other’s eye. They connected and subsequently grew fond of each other. This alleged couple was rumoured to be in a relationship for nearly 2 years.
No confirmation was made for this alleged romance.
However, the cricketer turned coach and commentator denied all conjectures (guesses), calling the rumours false during India’s England tour.
His reply to the tabloids was a strong one that instantly ended the line of questioning. He called these rumours the “biggest load of cow dung”.
Nimrat Kaur abstained from directly addressing the rumours.
However, she posted a subtle and witty reply on her Twitter account that said
Fact: I may need a root canal.
Fiction: Everything else I read about me today.
More Facts: Fiction can be more hurtful, Monday blues exist and I love ice cream.
Here’s to trash-free happy days ahead.”
These direct or indirect statements were enough for the rumours to die down. So nothing can be said conclusively about this alleged relationship.
Conclusion
Even though Ravi Shastri retired from cricket due to persistent injuries and personal controversies, the former player and head coach continues to be a dominant and guiding force for the Indian national cricket team.
In 2020-21, team India recorded their lowest-ever score in test matches. The head coach Shastri famously organized a Karaoke night to uplift the team’s spirit.
He commenced the night by singing a few Hindi songs himself. This goes on to show his commitment and dedication towards cricket.
He’s definitely one of India’s finest cricketers and coach irrespective of all that happened in his personal life.
