Ravi Shastri, who had described the India side as the “best-ever Indian team” in 2018, when they were yet to win a Test series overseas, repeated the same in an interview to The New Indian Express on Sunday, stating that the side under him managed to silence critics. “Till then (2018) people were thinking I was speaking in Spanish and French (on calling the side the ‘best-ever’). Finally, they understood I was speaking in English.”

Gautam Gambhir has criticised Shastri for his comments, adding that current head coach Rahul Dravid would never boast about his or his team’s achievements, especially after a drubbing. “The one thing I found surprising is that when you play well, you don’t usually boast about it. It’s fine if others talk about it; when we won the 2011 World Cup, no one gave statements saying that this team is the best in the world, let alone the country,” the left-hander said on Times Now Navbharat.

He stated that the players under Dravid would learn to be humbler and that his focus would be to make players “good people first”.

“When you win, let others talk about it. You won in Australia, that’s a big achievement no doubt. You won in England, performed well, no doubt. But let others praise you. You won’t hear such statements from Rahul Dravid. Whether India plays good or bad, his statements will always remain balanced. Moreover, it will reflect on other players.”

“Humility is very important, whether you play good or bad. Cricket won’t go on forever. I think Dravid’s major focus will be on making players good people first.”