India head coach Ravi Shastri once again cleared rumours of his bad relationship with the now BCCI president Sourav Ganguly saying they are nothing but media talk to generate TRPs.
It is believed outside that when Ganguly was part of the Cricket Advisory Committee two years back, responsible for appointing the team's head coach, he didn't want Anil Kumble to relinquish his post and Shastri to replace him as per the wishes of captain Virat Kohli.
Read Also: Sourav Ganguly opens up about rumours of his strained relationship with Ravi Shastri
"To hell with those who don’t understand my respect for Sourav", Shastri told India Today. "As far as the Sourav-Shastri ‘game’ goes, that is a brilliant chaat and bhelpuri for the media with all mirch and masala."
"What he (Ganguly) has done has a cricketer, I have got utmost respect. He took over Indian cricket at the most troubled times, post the match-fixing era when the Indian cricket was in shambles."
"You needed the faith of the people to comeback and I respect that. And if people don’t respect that, to hell with them," Shastri added in his typical flair.
The 57-year-old former all-rounder isn't also one to give a damn to his faceless and cowardly trolls over the social media. "What is this social media, this troll?" he asked. "I post my fans, they read, thank you very much…uske baad bhaad mai gaya jo.. (go to hell). It is just to tell my fans, I am here and what I am doing. Bolne waale bolenege (critics will never be quiet). We are a country of 1.2 billion people. People who do not have any work, they will speak."
But the man certainly feels the pressure that comes with his ever-scrutinised job. "Of course, you feel pressure," he said. "For ‘Chrissake’ (Christ’s sake), I am the coach of an Indian cricket team. This is not a mic in my hand. With mic I could tomp it off, it could take off. This is pressure. You are answerable. It’s a responsible position."
To the critics of his decision-making, along with skipper Kohli, often accused of looking at things passionately rather than tactically and analytically, Ravi said: "You point one at me, there are three fingers pointing back at you, always remember that. So you’re not here to get intimidated by nobody. This Indian team hates losing. Why? Because they know they can win anywhere. No one hates losing more than Virat Kohli and the coach."
"People have every right to question what I have said because they are doing a job. But for God’s sake, I have the right to say what I have to say as well. Don’t stop me from that because you will never be able to stop me. If I believe in something I will say it because I mean it."
(Inputs from India Today)
