Legends fire broadside at coach Shastri

New Delhi – India coach Ravi Shastri (right) has come under fire for his side’s humiliating 4-1 Test series defeat against England – a second consecutive away defeat for the world’s top-ranked side.

The thrashing in England, following the loss in South Africa earlier this year, piles pressure on Shastri ahead of a tour to Australia in November and next year’s World Cup – as well as a massive clash with arch-rivals Pakistan next week.

Critics and former captains have rounded on the coach, particularly for his mid-series claim that his team is the best to come out of India in 15 years.

Prior to the final Test at the Oval – which India lost by 118 runs – Shastri had raised eyebrows with lavish praise for his side.

“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 has done that in such a short time,” he said.

Shastri’s comments rankled former star players.

Sourav Ganguly, who was part of the committee that appointed Shastri last year, dismissed the coach’s claims as “immature”, telling Indian television Shastri must improve the team.

Sunil Gavaskar pointed out that Indian teams of the 1980s had won series in England and the West Indies – as well as a series victory in England as recently as 2007.