Ravi Shastri Strongly Defended Team India's Performance In England In Review Meeting: Report

India head coach Ravi Shastri has defended the team’s performance in England. Virat Kohli & Co. lost the five-match Test series 4-1 which further tarnished the country’s image as a travelling side.

And after the tour ended, Shastri met Committee of Administrators to discuss on the team’s performance.

Hopes were high from the current India side when this year began. After thoroughly dominating the last couple of years at home, this was the year which could have truly justified India’s number one ranking in Tesst. With series against South Africa, England and Australia lined up, good showing in tough overseas conditions would have enhanced India’s reputation.

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However, the current team also failed to end India’s recent woes outside the country. They began the year with a 2-1 defeat in South Africa. And the condition only worsened in England with a heavy 4-1 defeat.

Mumbai Mirror has reported that Shastri met CoA before the team left the country for Asia Cup on September 16. He strongly defended Virat Kohli and Co’s performance. The former India allrounder once again stated that the team was not outplayed despite the heavy loss.

Shastri had previously defended the team too.

“I would not say (we) failed badly. But we tried. We must give credit where it is due. Virat and me were asked to pick the Man of the Series (for England) and we both picked Sam Curran. Look where Curran has scored, and, that is where he hurt us. More than England, it was Curran who hurt us,” Shastri told ESPNCricinfo in an interview just after the series loss.

“Tell me one team in the world at the moment that goes out and competes all the time. We are the one team. It is just that we need results coming in our favour more often on the winning side,” Shastri had added.

Meanwhile the report further claims that CoA asked Shastri what could be done to achieve better results in the upcoming tour of Australia. In reply, Shastri reportedly asked for more practice games. The news outlet also claimed that the management is considering to strengthen the coaching staff.

India, meanwhile, will have a chance to get back to winning ways when they take on West Indies in a two-Test series, starting October 4.

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