Virat Kohli backs Shastri’s ‘best team’ remarks, shuts journalist on being questioned

Amidst the ongoing tumult over India head coach Ravi Shastri’s comments that this current side, which has just lost 4-1 to England in the Test series is the best Indian team in the last 15–20 years, skipper Virat Kohli sprang up to back his coach. The Indian captain said that this team like to believe that it is the best.

Asked by a journalist at the post-match media conference that if remarks such as these put an additional pressure on his shoulders or if he believed that this team was actually the best Indian side, Kohli in an arrogant tone replied, “We have to believe that we are the best side, why not?”

 But not satisfied, the journalist probed again “do you believe that this is the best team in the last 15-20 years as stated by your coach?” The repetition and constant questioning on the matter seemed to have upset Kohli, who retaliated by asking the same journalist: “What do you think?”

Then when being told “I am not sure,” the Indian skipper – already irritated by now – shut the journalist saying, “You’re not sure? That is your opinion. Thank you.”

Earlier, going into the fifth and final Test against England at The Oval, India coach Ravi Shastri had claimed that the current Indian team was the best side in the last 15-20 years.

Also Read: We have done better overseas than the Indian teams of the last 15-20 years: Ravi Shastri

Talking about the confidence of the Indian team, which had gone down by 60 runs at Southampton to lose the series 3-1, Shastri had said, “Nothing to take away (from England), the endeavour of this team is to travel well, compete and win. If you look at the last three years, we have won nine matches overseas and three series. I can’t see any other Indian team in the last 15-20 years that have had the same run in such a short time, and you have had some great players playing in those series.”

His comments were slammed by former Indian captains Sourav Ganguly and Sunil Gavaskar. While Ganguly called the remarks as “immature”, Gavaskar hit back saying India had in the past also won at England, West Indies and South Africa.

Video Credit: ESPNCricinfo

Image Source: IB Times