Those who want to keep abusing and ranting can continue doing that: Ravi Shastri

India coach Ravi Shastri came down hard at the detractors of the Indian cricket team stating that there are are people who’ve only wanted to criticise this team, taking continuous jibes and those who want to keep abusing and ranting can continue doing that. (ALSO READ: Regret missing out on big score in Sydney: Mayank Agarwal)

“This series win may have spoiled Christmas and New Year celebrations for a few. There are people who’ve only wanted to criticise this team, taking continuous jibes,” said Shastri speaking to The Times of India from Sydney.(ALSO READ: Kuldeep Yadav comes into the ICC World Cup 2019 mix big time: Ravi Shastri)

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“Social media is fine, you get all sorts and none of that matters as long as you do what you have to do and do it right. But there are people who’ve simply wanted to pull this team down and mind you, some have not been very subtle about it either,” he added. (ALSO READ: Ravi Shastri hits out at Sunil Gavaskar’s comments after historic series win in Australia)

After India’s series win in Australia, following Sydney washout, Shastri used his tried and trusted ammunition to attack the critics, saying negative comments coming from miles away were blown away by the wind like, what else, but a “tracer bullet”. (ALSO READ: I do stand by what I said: Ravi Shastri on Australia series win being bigger than 1983 World Cup triumph) 

“That’s why I said what I said in the press conference after the Sydney Test. Before my first stint with the team, India were No.5 or something (in Test rankings). The last three years they’ve been No.1 and that’s going to be the case for some time now. Those who want to keep abusing and ranting can continue doing that. Sooner or later they’ll understand they don’t matter,” said Shastri.

Moments after India’s maiden Test series triumph in Australia, Shastri hit back at the critics, including the legendary Sunil Gavaskar, who had questioned selections and the training regimen of the team. (India vs Australia, 4th Test, Sydney: FULL SCORECARD)

“I said in Melbourne – I think I mentioned people taking pot shots and firing blanks. I wasn’t joking there, because I knew how hard this team had worked. When you fire from there, by the time it crosses the southern hemisphere, it’s blown away by the wind like a tracer bullet,” Shastri told reporters after the 2-1 Test series triumph over Australia, India’s first in 71 years.

The former all-rounder was alluding to Gavaskar’s comments made on air during the fourth day’s play Sunday.

After fellow panellist Murali Karthik called the Perth defeat a wake-up call, Gavaskar had said, “And how did that wake-up call come? Because of the blanks being fired from thousands of miles away. The blanks made the noise that woke this team up!” (ALSO READ: Not India’s fault that Australia was without Steve Smith and David Warner: Sunil Gavaskar)

Having achieved as coach what no other Indian team has in 71 years, it was Shastri’s turn to respond.

Continuing his tirade, he said, “…But lead, with something in it, can be pretty serious. And that’s what we have fired right through the series against Australia. We were committed, and it jolly well bloody made a difference at the end of it all. This is not a team of gods or demigods, seniors or juniors.”