Shastri Feels: No Indian Team In Last 15-20 Years Has Had The Same Run As Current Team

India's head coach Ravi Shastri made a big statement on current Indian Test team and called them the best in last 15-20 years in overseas conditions despite suffering 3-1 (with one more match to play) in the ongoing 5-match series against England. Shastri has always defended his side and this time was no different. He was speaking in the press conference ahead of the fifth and final England-India Test.

Though India haven't been able to cross the line on numerous occasions, Shastri backs his side and called them the best Indian team in last 15-20 years. He has always been said that they want to be the best traveling side in the world. However, India's last series win outside Asia (excluding West Indies) came against New Zealand in 2009, since then they haven't been able to win any series against SENA countries.



There is no doubt that Virat Kohli led Indian side have competed much better than other teams in overseas conditions but they haven't been able to cross the line on many occasions. Even Kohli had said after 4th Test that, "we can not say every time that we have competed well, crossing the line is something that we need to learn as the team".

They have run both South Africa and England close, but have failed to cross the finish line - something that has left Shastri with a headache. Shastri laid out a number of things that seem to dog India when it came to seizing the initiative.

"I think you have got to get tough mentally. We have run teams close overseas and we have competed. But now it's not about competing. We have to win games from here. Now the endeavor is to understand where you made the mistakes and take it head on and try to correct it. The fact of the matter is you had a chance.



"The scoreline says 3-1 which mean India have lost the series, what the scoreline doesn't say that India could have been 3-1 or it could have been 2-2. And my team knows it. They would have hurt and rightly so after the last game. But this is a team that will not throw in the towel. It will come out there and look to compete and not be on the first flight home, and that's exactly what we will do," Shastri said in press conference.

India have come close to win Edgbaston and Southampton Test but on both occasions, their batsmen let India down. India's top order has failed miserably against the swinging balls. If the swinging balls weren't enough to run through India's batting order, their shot selection wasn't good either. Edgbaston and Southampton's lose showed not only India's struggle in closing out games, but also the number of factors that they needed to get right in order to do so.

"As far as crossing the line goes, you have to give credit to Moeen Ali there on the last day (in Southampton). To be honest, he bowled magnificently. As hard as our guys tried, England was one-up on us there. Nothing to take away (from them). The endeavor 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. So the promise is there, it is just about getting tougher mentally, you have got to hurt when you lose matches because that's when you look within and come out with the right kind of answers, to combat such situations and get past the finishing line. One day you will if you believe," He added.

"I think shot selection left a lot to be desired, we blew away a very good position straight away after Tea on day two (in Southampton). That's an area where you can tighten, be aware of what the team needs, being aware of the match situation, that will be a big help. I think that was crucial more than anything else.

"It's being aware of being in a good position and then capitalizing. And not doing something silly to open the door for the opposition, I thought at 180/4, there was a definite chance of a 75-80-run lead, and that would have been crucial. So that hurts."

The fifth and final Test will be played at The Oval, London from Friday, September 7. Though England have already won the series, India will look to win the final match to boost their morale going into Asia Cup.

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