Ravi Shastri in a file image.
Heading into the fifth and final Test of the five-match series against England, India will be looking to garner some pride having already lost the series after their famed batting failed yet again under the pressure of a fourth-innings chase in Southampton. While the team has deservedly faced the flak of fans for their non-performance, the side's Head coach Ravi Shastri, on Tuesday, rated the team the "best travelling side in last 15 years", although being factually incorrect.
When former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly was asked on IndiaTV's 'Cricket Ki Baat' show, what his thoughts were on Shastri's statement, the Bengal Tiger dismissed the former all-rounder's comments as being rather immature.
"It is immature of him to talk like this. You shouldn't pay too much attention to his words. What he says and when he says no one knows. I don't want us to focus too much on his statement. All I want is that India plays good cricket in this last Test. It is not possible to compare players and teams from different eras with each other. We all have played for the Indian team, whether it is Dhoni or Dravid or others, we all have represented the same Indian team. We support Virat Kohli and the rest of the boys and I wish the Indian side good luck for the fifth and final Test of the series starting at The Oval on September 7," said Dada.
India under Ganguly drew a Test series in England (2002) and Australia (2003-04) apart from winning a Test in the West Indies and a series in Pakistan.
Under Rahul Dravid, India won two series in the West Indies (2006) and England (2007) apart from winning a Test in South Africa.
When Anil Kumble was made the captain, India bagged a Test match win in Perth for the first time and under Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the team won a series in New Zealand and also for the only time drew a series in South Africa.
Kohli and Co., on the contrary, have failed to win a series in South Africa followed by the ongoing debacle in England.
(With IANS inputs)
