Former India cricketer and head coach Ravi Shastri has always been targeted by the memers and trolls on social media. But Shastri doesn't mind it and he even invited them to have a drink with him.
In an interaction with India Today, Shastri said he takes the jokes sportingly and it doesn't affect him. "I quite enjoyed some of them (memes). That's talent also. When they suddenly make me have a paunch, then it disappears the next day.
"There are bottles everywhere, it is a laugh at my expense. So at least in tough times, you kept people in good humor. I would like to invite some of them for a drink," Shastri told Rajdeep Sardesai.
This is not the first time Shastri has expressed that he doesn't take offense when jokes are made on him. Speaking during a press conference after India's 3-1 victory over England earlier this year, he had said, "It's banter all the way.
"They do it to have fun. It's at my expense, but it's okay, Have a drink on my name. When you post those kinds of things, so many people have a laugh. Enjoy, it doesn't affect me. As long as the team does well, I'm happy."
The 59-year-old is satisfied with his coaching stint with the Indian cricket team with a lot of success over the years. "This tenure has given me more job satisfaction than anything else. When in this job, you are just with your coaching staff. All you can do is create a mindset that allows the boys to play freely once they are out and giving back something.
"It has entailed a lot of sacrifices, especially in the last year and a half during Covid which cricket has not seen since the Second World War," he said.
(With India Today Inputs)
