How India's cricket coaches' salaries have risen...

Rediff.com's Harish Kotian checks out how much India's cricket coaches -- from John Wright to Ravi Shastri -- have been paid.

Like a tracer bullet -- his favourite metaphor, which he could well copyright -- Ravi Shastri has not only replaced Anil Kumble as India's head cricket coach, but also ensured that his demands for a much bigger pay packet and his chosen team of support staff were unconditionally accepted by the BCCI.

Shastri, who was Captain Virat Kohli's preferred choice, beat off competition from Virender Sehwag and Tom Moody to bag arguably the most high-profile and lucrative job in the world of sport.

The reason for Shastri's Rs 8 crore (Rs 80 million) annual pay package is keeping in mind that he will sacrifice his lucrative role as a commentator and end his other media commitments.

When he was the team director, Shastri -- who captained India in only one Test -- earned around Rs 6 crore (Rs 60 million) annually.

He nearly became the coach last year, but lost out to Kumble who was paid Rs 6.25 crore (Rs 62.5 million) annually.

Since John Wright's appointment in 2000, India had preferred foreign-born coaches till Kumble bucked the trend in 2016.

A look at how India's head coach salaries have risen since 2000:

Production: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com