"We have a legacy like WI did in the 80s and Australia did in the turn of the century": Ravi Shastri

[Abdullah719]

"We have a legacy like WI did in the 80s and Australia did in the turn of the century": Ravi Shastri

‘Absolute nonsense!’ Ravi Shastri opens up on alleged rift between Kohli and Rohit

Difference of opinion cannot be construed as conflict, said India head coach Ravi Shastri as he sought to play down the speculation of a rift between captain Virat Kohli and his limited-overs deputy Rohit Sharma.

Shastri, who had also rubbished the reports of the alleged rift between the two senior players earlier, was asked about the subject again. “In a side when you have 15 players there will always be times when there will be opinions that will be different. That is what is needed. I don’t want everyone toeing the same line,” Shastri told Gulf News.

“You have got to have discussions and someone might then think of a fresh strategy which has to be encouraged. So, you have to give the guys the opportunity to express themselves and then decide what is best.

“Sometimes it might be the junior most player in the team who may come up with a strategy which we hadn’t even thought of and we need to bring that to the table. So, these should not be seen as a conflict,” he added.

Ahead of the team’s departure to the Caribbean, Kohli too had dismissed the reports of rift.

Shastri, who was reappointed last month till the 2021 World Cup, argued that Rohit would not have scored five hundreds in the World Cup if there were serious differences between him and Kohli.

“Listen, I have been around the dressing room for the last five years. I have seen how the boys have played and how they have complemented the team and know their work ethics. I feel it is absolute nonsense.

“If that was the case why would Rohit get five hundreds in the World Cup? Why would Virat do what he is doing? How would they have partnerships together?” Shastri asked.

Asked if the rumours affected the team spirit in any way, Shastri said: “When a team is playing in this fashion over five years it is important that you get behind the team and be positive rather than try and create any trouble. This kind of consistency I have not seen any time.

“We have a legacy like the West Indies did the in Eighties and Australia did in the turn of the century. This team too has an opportunity to leave that kind of legacy and they are already doing it.

“Look at how we have performed in T20, one-dayers and Tests and even in the big ICC tournaments, it is unbelievable,” he added.

https://www.cricketcountry.com/news...t-between-virat-kohli-and-rohit-sharma-890015

 

[re82h]

lol take the bottle away from him.

 

[Titan24]

For such kind of legacy you need extraordinary players from top to no 11. While this Indian team has been doing extremely well but it doesnt have the same flare except maybe Kohli and Bumrah if we consider all 3 formats.

 

[sweep_shot]

India lost in South Africa and England.

India are a great Test team but comparing them to 80's Windies team or 2000's Aussie team is absurd.

 

[InziFans]

The Windies team of the 80s "blackwashed" England 5-0 in England. India, on the other hand, almost got whitewashed in England. No comparison.

 

[Shams123]

He is not wrong here. India always had world class batters but lacked the match winners in the bowling department. Nowadays, with the rise of bumrah, kuldeep, chahal, and bhuvi they have the most balanced team in india's history. Although one thing they are missing is ICC trophies.

 

[BaankeJi]

What is he drinking? India have a long way to go to reach that level.

 

[Hasan123]

Nothing wrong with aiming high.

 

[shantanu]

He ia being a blowhard. We need to keep working hard. It is true though that the next decade or two will see the rise of dominancne for indian cricket. Because people like dravid are working at the roots level. We have never had a stronger bowling attack. In white as well as red ball. I would say its a good time to be an indian cricket fan maybe even an indian in general.

 

[deep82]

India is No.1 for 3 consecutive years and if we can maintain it for next 2 years and also reach test championship final, it would be hard to disagree with Ravi! But , right now...No, we aren't at that level.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Only legacy he has is drinking beer in empty stomach and rambling in the press

 

[Khan12]

Nothing wrong with aiming high.

Aiming high is fine but saying "we have" rather then "we want" is completely different. He's lost at the moment when he finds his way then i am sure we will laugh at this statement.

 

[Hasan123]

Aiming high is fine but saying "we have" rather then "we want" is completely different. He's lost at the moment when he finds his way then i am sure we will laugh at this statement.

Never said his statements are fine.

 

[Hitman]

Can’t believe some posters are taking this clown seriously.

 

[ManFan]

Can’t believe some posters are taking this clown seriously.

He’s not stupid.

He knows he’s being used as a mouthpiece for Kohli and a pawn to take the downfall for anything that goes wrong for the BCCI.

But he’s willing to go along with it because it pays well.

 

[Ab Fan]

Far from either. We were among the two-three favourites in pretty much every ICC tournament played after CT 2013 but we couldn't grab a single one.

In tests, Kohli is an ATG, Bumrah looks class apart but he is in young days, rest all are unproven away from home.

One of the greatest team ever in home conditions but away from home, not more than just decent.

 

[BaankeJi]

Drunkard *****, he is killing my interest in Indian team.

As an Indian fan, it is embarrassing to hear these statements.

 

[IAJ]

Can’t believe some posters are taking this clown seriously.

So you have a clown coaching the national side, tells more about your decision makers than the clown himself.

 

[Markhor]

Ravi Shastri: We want a legacy like West Indies of 80s.

Also Ravi Shastri: Let's cut short our ONLY warmup match before the England Tests because it's too hot.

 

[Junaids]

India lost 7 Tests in 2018.

That’s a legacy very similar to the great West Indies and Australian teams.

Except they won as often as India loses.

 

[Saj]

Which legacy is Shastri referring to?

Can someone please enlighten me on this legacy?

 

[troodon]

India has the team to beat England and SA this time around. Our bowling is lethal now and batting is almost the same.

 

[Danyaalr01]

They lost to an England side which has been beaten by West Indies and Pakistan, they lost to South Africa, and the only reason they beat Australia is because Smith and Warner weren't there. This team is also yet to beat NZ in NZ.

India always gives everyone an opportunity to make fun of them. If they just keep their mouths shut and play cricket, no one will say anything.

West Indies of 70s and 80s, and Australia of late 90s and 2000s had a right to say such things because they had the results to back them. These teams were feared. I don't think anyone fears India.

 

[Rana]

They are poor in England. We are yet to see them show their mettle in a full on Test series against Pakistan in sub continent conditions. They beat a B team Australia in Oz.

Shastri just blowing his own trumpet here

 

[Khan12]

Never said his statements are fine.

"Nothing wrong with aiming high". Seems like you haven't read anything. You are talking about something else.

 

[silent ischemia]

India has one of the best sides around in all three formats; no doubt. But to compare then with the Windies of the 80s and Aus of 2000s is a joke. They have alot to prove before they can be put in the same bracket.

 

[Shazzam]

Can’t believe some posters are taking this clown seriously.

If anyone makes ambitious statement like this posters have the right to call it out.

 

[Junaids]

How India performed in their last away Test series in major countries:

In England: lost.
In New Zealand: lost
In South Africa: lost
In Pakistan: lost
In Australia: won 2-1 against a weakened team deprived of Smith and Warner.

 

[jeeteshssaxena]

The goat asian team but still nowhere near legendary wi or aus.

 

[Junaids]

The goat asian team but still nowhere near legendary wi or aus.

Really?

Let’s compare the last Test away series results for Imran Khan’s Pakistan.

England: won 1-0 away
India: won 1-0 away
West Indies: Drew 1-1 away
New Zealand : Drew 0-0 away
Australia: Lost 1-0 away.

I have no doubt that that was the GOAT Asian team.

 

[Ram Shekhar]

Can’t believe some posters are taking this clown seriously.

But isn't he the coach of our side? This team and Kohli genuinely feel and share sentiments of Shastri. What a joke of a team!

 

[Ram Shekhar]

How India performed in their last away Test series in major countries:

In England: lost.
In New Zealand: lost
In South Africa: lost
In Pakistan: lost
In Australia: won 2-1 against a weakened team deprived of Smith and Warner.

This, Sir, is a real tight slap on us, the Indian cricket fans. This is the ground reality. About time we understood that we're no more than home track bullies and we don't deserve 5 match series in England and Australia. Let alone Pakistan, Sri Lanka competes better against these teams and in fact they won the series i South Africa!

 

[Junaids]

How India performed in their last away Test series in major countries:

In England: lost.
In New Zealand: lost
In South Africa: lost
In Pakistan: lost
In Australia: won 2-1 against a weakened team deprived of Smith and Warner.

Really?

Let’s compare the last Test away series results for Imran Khan’s Pakistan.

England: won 1-0 away
India: won 1-0 away
West Indies: Drew 1-1 away
New Zealand : Drew 0-0 away
Australia: Lost 1-0 away.

I have no doubt that that was the GOAT Asian team.

The contrast is breathtaking.

As is the chutzpah of Shastri thinking that his team is qualified to claim a “legacy” of anything other than serial away Test failures.

 

[Swashbuckler]

Can't believe Kumble was sacked to accommodate this clown. This side is truly fearsome in Asian conditions but Shastri had no contribution there, in SENA this team has the capability to win under a competent team management, not a bunch of lazy and stupid drunkards. Series win in Australia has given these idiots so much ammunition, that was a well deserved win but what about SA and Eng, former was lost entirely because of absurd team selection and lack of warm ups. Even in England why did we play Bumrah and Bhuvi in the useless ODIs and T20s against Ireland and England?

 

[happydavy]

Shastri is delusional. To be compared to WI of 80s or Aus of 2000s, you need to win some big test series and ICC tournaments. India has done neither, they may be a good consistent time but no where close to being considered a great team.

 

[Mamoon]

The contrast is breathtaking.

As is the chutzpah of Shastri thinking that his team is qualified to claim a “legacy” of anything other than serial away Test failures.

Imran’s Pakistan lost a Test (and subsequently drew the series) in Sri Lanka in 1986 when they were minnows, which was the highlight for Sri Lanka in the 1980’s.

That is a lower low than anything Kohli’s team has achieved, and a far bigger embarrassment than any of their away series failures.

Holding West Indies to draws was a big achievement, but it was canceled out by losing to a minnow like Sri Lanka.

Kohli’s India have clearly achieved more than Imran’s Pakistan, as has Kohli as a Test captain compared to Imran.

 

[Ab Fan]

This, Sir, is a real tight slap on us, the Indian cricket fans. This is the ground reality. About time we understood that we're no more than home track bullies and we don't deserve 5 match series in England and Australia. Let alone Pakistan, Sri Lanka competes better against these teams and in fact they won the series i South Africa!

I agree.

Actually we are scared of playing test cricket against Sarfaraz's Pakistan.We know they have got Yasir, who will run through our lineup and our captain might have to face a kind of embarrassment in front of which the humiliation he got in England back in 2014 would look nothing.

I can only think of the humiliation we will get once the genius of Sarfaraz will combine with Yasir's magic. Luckily for us, Amir has retired otherwise Rohit Sharma might not have been selected in 15-man squad.

We can only dream of beating GOaT Imran's GOaT Asian team.

 

[BalluBalleBaaz]

Ravi clearly had too much that day! Kaptaan saab is rightfully 'King Kohli'.

 

[BaankeJi]

Read it again guys. His statement is being misinterpreted.
He is saying his side has the opportunity to become like those great teams. Not that the team is already like that.

 

[BaankeJi]

‘Absolute nonsense!’ Ravi Shastri opens up on alleged rift between Kohli and Rohit

Difference of opinion cannot be construed as conflict, said India head coach Ravi Shastri as he sought to play down the speculation of a rift between captain Virat Kohli and his limited-overs deputy Rohit Sharma.

Shastri, who had also rubbished the reports of the alleged rift between the two senior players earlier, was asked about the subject again. “In a side when you have 15 players there will always be times when there will be opinions that will be different. That is what is needed. I don’t want everyone toeing the same line,” Shastri told Gulf News.

“You have got to have discussions and someone might then think of a fresh strategy which has to be encouraged. So, you have to give the guys the opportunity to express themselves and then decide what is best.

“Sometimes it might be the junior most player in the team who may come up with a strategy which we hadn’t even thought of and we need to bring that to the table. So, these should not be seen as a conflict,” he added.

Ahead of the team’s departure to the Caribbean, Kohli too had dismissed the reports of rift.

Shastri, who was reappointed last month till the 2021 World Cup, argued that Rohit would not have scored five hundreds in the World Cup if there were serious differences between him and Kohli.

“Listen, I have been around the dressing room for the last five years. I have seen how the boys have played and how they have complemented the team and know their work ethics. I feel it is absolute nonsense.

“If that was the case why would Rohit get five hundreds in the World Cup? Why would Virat do what he is doing? How would they have partnerships together?” Shastri asked.

Asked if the rumours affected the team spirit in any way, Shastri said: “When a team is playing in this fashion over five years it is important that you get behind the team and be positive rather than try and create any trouble. This kind of consistency I have not seen any time.

“We have a legacy like the West Indies did the in Eighties and Australia did in the turn of the century. This team too has an opportunity to leave that kind of legacy and they are already doing it.

“Look at how we have performed in T20, one-dayers and Tests and even in the big ICC tournaments, it is unbelievable,” he added.

https://www.cricketcountry.com/news...t-between-virat-kohli-and-rohit-sharma-890015

Nothing wrong in aiming to be like great teams. He nowhere said that his team is already like those teams.

 

[ManFan]

Imran’s Pakistan lost a Test (and subsequently drew the series) in Sri Lanka in 1986 when they were minnows, which was the highlight for Sri Lanka in the 1980’s.

That is a lower low than anything Kohli’s team has achieved, and a far bigger embarrassment than any of their away series failures.

Holding West Indies to draws was a big achievement, but it was canceled out by losing to a minnow like Sri Lanka.

Kohli’s India have clearly achieved more than Imran’s Pakistan, as has Kohli as a Test captain compared to Imran.

Three draws against the greatest Test side of all time is canceled by a one-off loss?

I think your bias against IK and for Kohli taints your judgement on that team.

Kohli may have won more matches and series, but he is yet to equal IK in terms of impact.

The way he has led his ego get the better of the Test team on the tours to SA and ENG show that the team is not lacking in talent but leadership.

He has a LONG way to gay before he can equal IK as a Test captain.

 

[Mamoon]

Three draws against the greatest Test side of all time is canceled by a one-off loss?

I think your bias against IK and for Kohli taints your judgement on that team.

Kohli may have won more matches and series, but he is yet to equal IK in terms of impact.

The way he has led his ego get the better of the Test team on the tours to SA and ENG show that the team is not lacking in talent but leadership.

He has a LONG way to gay before he can equal IK as a Test captain.

14 Test wins is no impact and only 3 Test wins outside home is no legacy.

I actually believe the opposite - Imran’s record as Test captain is greatly overstated because of his overall stature in Pakistan (not just cricket) and because of his World Cup win. The pro-Imran propaganda is so strong that hardly anyone cares about the humiliating defeat in Sri Lanka, which is equivalent to Kohli leading India to a Test defeat in Afghanistan today.

If that happens, he will be grilled for the rest of his career and beyond no matter what he achieves.

As a Test captain, Kohli beats Imran to a pulp by most metrics. Even the argument that Imran was better at player development doesn’t hold up anymore. Kohli has transformed a meme bowler like Ishant into a world class one, and the development of Bumrah has been incredible to watch.

Kohli has literally won twice as many matches as Imran in the same number of games, and will most probably end up as the most prolific captain of all time ahead of G. Smith. Kohli is an outstanding captain and leader in Tests and if we put our romanticism and obsession with Imran aside, he is by far a superior captain in the Test format.

 

[Markhor]

Imran’s Pakistan lost a Test (and subsequently drew the series) in Sri Lanka in 1986 when they were minnows, which was the highlight for Sri Lanka in the 1980’s.

That is a lower low than anything Kohli’s team has achieved, and a far bigger embarrassment than any of their away series failures.

Holding West Indies to draws was a big achievement, but it was canceled out by losing to a minnow like Sri Lanka.

Kohli’s India have clearly achieved more than Imran’s Pakistan, as has Kohli as a Test captain compared to Imran.

Think its worth providing some context here. The 1986 series was marred by appalling Sri Lankan umpiring.

There was an anti-Pakistan feeling in Sri Lanka as they themselves felt hard done by the umpiring and green pitches Pakistan laid out for them in the reverse series in 1985.

Pakistan would've won the 1988 Barbados Test had there been neutral umpires. And not for the first time, they were similarly robbed in the 1977 Barbados Test where West Indies scraped a draw.

 

[Rellu_Katta]

can anyone recommend a brain surgon for some posters here... kholi being the greatest captain ever... really r some seriious jokers on here

 

[ManFan]

14 Test wins is no impact and only 3 Test wins outside home is no legacy.

I actually believe the opposite - Imran’s record as Test captain is greatly overstated because of his overall stature in Pakistan (not just cricket) and because of his World Cup win. The pro-Imran propaganda is so strong that hardly anyone cares about the humiliating defeat in Sri Lanka, which is equivalent to Kohli leading India to a Test defeat in Afghanistan today.

If that happens, he will be grilled for the rest of his career and beyond no matter what he achieves.

As a Test captain, Kohli beats Imran to a pulp by most metrics. Even the argument that Imran was better at player development doesn’t hold up anymore. Kohli has transformed a meme bowler like Ishant into a world class one, and the development of Bumrah has been incredible to watch.

Kohli has literally won twice as many matches as Imran in the same number of games, and will most probably end up as the most prolific captain of all time ahead of G. Smith. Kohli is an outstanding captain and leader in Tests and if we put our romanticism and obsession with Imran aside, he is by far a superior captain in the Test format.

Bumrah was brought up under Dhoni in LOI and then carried those skills with him to Test cricket under Kohli.

He has handled pace bowers better than any Indian captain in history. But his home record and a few wins outside Asia overrate him as a leader overall.

He should have won in SA and ENG considering the decline of the other teams and strength of his own. Yet, he remained bullheaded about certain selections that ruined those altogether.

Besides Bumrah, there has not been one player he has molded. And even that was an extension of Dhoni’s leadership.

So often the numbers don’t entirely tell the story in cricket and that is the case here.

Imran may have won a few matches but they were important in deterring the greater results out of them. A series win in England, India, and 3X draws against the ATG WI team when no one else could give them a lick.

If we go by wins, then Misbah is the greatest Pakistani captain and I’m sure almost all of PP would certainly disagree.

 

[tyron_woodley]

I agree.

Actually we are scared of playing test cricket against Sarfaraz's Pakistan.We know they have got Yasir, who will run through our lineup and our captain might have to face a kind of embarrassment in front of which the humiliation he got in England back in 2014 would look nothing.

I can only think of the humiliation we will get once the genius of Sarfaraz will combine with Yasir's magic. Luckily for us, Amir has retired otherwise Rohit Sharma might not have been selected in 15-man squad.

We can only dream of beating GOaT Imran's GOaT Asian team.

lol pakistan even in their glory days of 90s barely beat a weakened india.

india now would annihilate pakistan. However, india just needs to keep winning at home if they are dominant at home like they have been and win a series in England or S.A that's enough to label them as a GOAT team.

Its not easy to dominate at home. Australia loses at home. s.africa loses at home. india haven't yet.

 

[ManFan]

lol pakistan even in their glory days of 90s barely beat a weakened india.

india now would annihilate pakistan. However, india just needs to keep winning at home if they are dominant at home like they have been and win a series in England or S.A that's enough to label them as a GOAT team.

Its not easy to dominate at home. Australia loses at home. s.africa loses at home. india haven't yet.

Glory days.

You mean 1999?

 

[Junaids]

lol pakistan even in their glory days of 90s barely beat a weakened india.

india now would annihilate pakistan. However, india just needs to keep winning at home if they are dominant at home like they have been and win a series in England or S.A that's enough to label them as a GOAT team.

Its not easy to dominate at home. Australia loses at home. s.africa loses at home. india haven't yet.

Pardon?

In 1999 when England lost 2-0 at home to Pakistan, they beat India 2-0.

Then four months later Pakistan played 3 Tests in India against Tendulkar, Dravid, Ganguly, Laxman, Kumble and Srinath. And Pakistan won 2 of those 3 Tests in India.

 

[KP From India]

Win was by 12 runs, loss was by 212 runs.

 

[Junaids]

Win was by 12 runs, loss was by 212 runs.

There were two Pakistan wins in three Tests in India that winter!

 

[KP From India]

I am not denying that Pak won 2 matches.
Point being In Ind-Pak test series Ind won by 212 runs and Pak by 12 runs.
Other Pak win was in Ind, Pak, sl tri test series where Pak won by 46.
The victory margins can not be called exact domination.
Also how do you factor in home dominance/ struggle when rating good/great test teams?

 

[Ab Fan]

Really?

Let’s compare the last Test away series results for Imran Khan’s Pakistan.

England: won 1-0 away
India: won 1-0 away
West Indies: Drew 1-1 away
New Zealand : Drew 0-0 away
Australia: Lost 1-0 away.

I have no doubt that that was the GOAT Asian team.

India between 2006-2011 till WC:-

West Indies 2006: won 1-0
England 2007:- won 1-0
Australia 2007:- lost 1-2 but should have been other way round
New Zealand 2008:- won 1-0 away
ATG South Africa 2010:- drew 1-1 away
World Cup 2011:- Won by India

This was better than any Imran's team. And this ain't even India's best team.

 

[AdamM97]

No doubt that India has a deadly team but India hasn’t won any major trophy since 2011. It’s unfair to compare it to the WI team (1975-1985) and the Australian team (1990-2010)

The only remarkable thing India has achieved since 2011 is a Test series win in Australia.

 

[AdamM97]

lol pakistan even in their glory days of 90s barely beat a weakened india.

india now would annihilate pakistan. However, india just needs to keep winning at home if they are dominant at home like they have been and win a series in England or S.A that's enough to label them as a GOAT team.

Its not easy to dominate at home. Australia loses at home. s.africa loses at home. india haven't yet.

Didn’t India lose to Australia at home this year?

 

[KP From India]

In odis not tests.

 

[Ab Fan]

Didn’t India lose to Australia at home this year?

India lost in ODIs. In tests, we have won every single series at home(no draws) since England 2012.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Really?

Let’s compare the last Test away series results for Imran Khan’s Pakistan.

England: won 1-0 away
India: won 1-0 away
West Indies: Drew 1-1 away
New Zealand : Drew 0-0 away
Australia: Lost 1-0 away.

I have no doubt that that was the GOAT Asian team.

Remind me what happened when ik captained in Lanka?

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Think its worth providing some context here. The 1986 series was marred by appalling Sri Lankan umpiring.

There was an anti-Pakistan feeling in Sri Lanka as they themselves felt hard done by the umpiring and green pitches Pakistan laid out for them in the reverse series in 1985.

Pakistan would've won the 1988 Barbados Test had there been neutral umpires. And not for the first time, they were similarly robbed in the 1977 Barbados Test where West Indies scraped a draw.

If we are going to talk about umpiring in that era , then Pakistan's hone record in the 1980-1995 period is questionable as well.

 

[Markhor]

If we are going to talk about umpiring in that era , then Pakistan's hone record in the 1980-1995 period is questionable as well.

No doubt, PAK umpiring was both crooked and inept. Thank god for DRS.

 

[Cricketrenew]

Windies in the 80's was a lot better allround, Australia were good but over rated due to them playing so many Ashes series. Their bowling was very good though.

India not in the same league... they have done better than other teams but overall the standard globally is poor, compared to players and their abilities.

 

[Manunited18]

Imran’s Pakistan lost a Test (and subsequently drew the series) in Sri Lanka in 1986 when they were minnows, which was the highlight for Sri Lanka in the 1980’s.

That is a lower low than anything Kohli’s team has achieved, and a far bigger embarrassment than any of their away series failures.

Holding West Indies to draws was a big achievement, but it was canceled out by losing to a minnow like Sri Lanka.

Kohli’s India have clearly achieved more than Imran’s Pakistan, as has Kohli as a Test captain compared to Imran.

Always knew you were a Muppet, but this takes the biscuit

 

[Titan24]

I am not denying that Pak won 2 matches.
Point being In Ind-Pak test series Ind won by 212 runs and Pak by 12 runs.
Other Pak win was in Ind, Pak, sl tri test series where Pak won by 46.
The victory margins can not be called exact domination.
Also how do you factor in home dominance/ struggle when rating good/great test teams?

So margin of defeats is deciding a better team now? So according to this theory Pak team is better in that regard recently in ODIs as irrespective of WC 2019 loss and Asia Cup loss Pak beat India by 180 runs in CT 17 final which is a much bigger margin than any defeats they faced.

 

[tyron_woodley]

Windies in the 80's was a lot better allround, Australia were good but over rated due to them playing so many Ashes series. Their bowling was very good though.

India not in the same league... they have done better than other teams but overall the standard globally is poor, compared to players and their abilities.

I agree Aussies were overrated in tests even at their best. They barely edged teams out. Only really beat s.africa away. They beat an Indian team away in 04 without kumble and tendulkar. Just like how many guys were claiming that india beat A weakened australia away recently.

india only needs to really dominate and not lose a series at home to be up there with those great teams. Away wins in England and s.africa would make them the best ever.

pakistan used to have a better record away from home but now I don't know what happened.

I want to know more about imran khan's pakistam though. Imran khan is a GOAT bowler and I heard great stories about his leadership. Did they beat the Aussies away though? drawing in w.indies is impressive considering w.indies team at the time.

imran khan's pakistan may be underrated actually. They would beat 1999 pakistan easily.

 

[Junaids]

I agree Aussies were overrated in tests even at their best. They barely edged teams out. Only really beat s.africa away. They beat an Indian team away in 04 without kumble and tendulkar. Just like how many guys were claiming that india beat A weakened australia away recently.

india only needs to really dominate and not lose a series at home to be up there with those great teams. Away wins in England and s.africa would make them the best ever.

pakistan used to have a better record away from home but now I don't know what happened.

I want to know more about imran khan's pakistam though. Imran khan is a GOAT bowler and I heard great stories about his leadership. Did they beat the Aussies away though? drawing in w.indies is impressive considering w.indies team at the time.

imran khan's pakistan may be underrated actually. They would beat 1999 pakistan easily.

Australia in the 1980's went from being the third best team until Chappell/Marsh/Lillee retired (early 1984), to being the third worst team for the next 5 years, and then rising to be the third best team.

The timing of Pakistan's tours was unfortunate.

They lost 2-1 in Australia in 1981-82, having done their usual trick of arriving too late and not acclimatizing. But they finished with an Innings Victory at the MCG, and big things were expected.

So big that in 1983-84 they were invited for a 5 Test series. But Wasim Akram was a year away from his debut and Imran was unfit to bowl. Pakistan had no fast bowlers at all. They lost 2-0, with 3 draws, and then immediately Lillee, Marsh and Chappell retired.

The next few years the Aussies lost at home to everyone except India: New Zealand, West Indies and even England. But Pakistan didn't play them in that time.

And when did Pakistan next visit? 1989-90! Australia were good again and Pakistan lost 1-0, but only because they as always arrived too late and lost the First Test. The Second Test saw Australia scrape a draw as Pakistan closed in on victory at Adelaide while the Third Test was ruined by rain.

Victory in Australia was not a benchmark in the 1980's because so many touring sides did it after the 3 great Aussies retired.

 

[SensiblePakFan]

lmao is he serious

 

[Last Monetarist]

India between 2006-2011 till WC:-

West Indies 2006: won 1-0
England 2007:- won 1-0
Australia 2007:- lost 1-2 but should have been other way round
New Zealand 2008:- won 1-0 away
ATG South Africa 2010:- drew 1-1 away
World Cup 2011:- Won by India

This was better than any Imran's team. And this ain't even India's best team.

Not arguing the premise, but how do you figure that out ? India were clearly second best on that tour, no amount of shoddy umpiring can excuse this frankly mystifying narrative that they would have won the series. The margin of victory in Sydney was more than a hundred runs, and if we are going to speculate meaningless what-ifs the Australians won't have been complacent at the WACA had they not already retained the trophy.

 

[Ab Fan]

Not arguing the premise, but how do you figure that out ? India were clearly second best on that tour, no amount of shoddy umpiring can excuse this frankly mystifying narrative that they would have won the series. The margin of victory in Sydney was more than a hundred runs, and if we are going to speculate meaningless what-ifs the Australians won't have been complacent at the WACA had they not already retained the trophy.

There were plenty of decisions that went against India, the first of which against Symonds by Bucknor was absolute bizzare. Even his dog would have judged that simple edge to keeper correctly.

It was a terrible terrible umpiring and India had the team to beat Australia in that Sydney test if the decisions were made correctly or if there was the umpiring referral system back then.

It can be argued that Perth victory came from an all-round performance by India after the whole controversy of Sydney test but whatever be ifs and buts, India had in them to make the series 2-1, only in Melbourne were they poor.

 

[Last Monetarist]

There were plenty of decisions that went against India, the first of which against Symonds by Bucknor was absolute bizzare. Even his dog would have judged that simple edge to keeper correctly.

It was a terrible terrible umpiring and India had the team to beat Australia in that Sydney test if the decisions were made correctly or if there was the umpiring referral system back then.

It can be argued that Perth victory came from an all-round performance by India after the whole controversy of Sydney test but whatever be ifs and buts, India had in them to make the series 2-1, only in Melbourne were they poor.

But the point is Australia was still the better team at Sydney. At best, India would have drawn that test. This is all meaningless speculation.

 

[Ab Fan]

But the point is Australia was still the better team at Sydney. At best, India would have drawn that test. This is all meaningless speculation.

I beg to disagree. In Sydney test, actually India, not Australia, were a better team. You do know Australia were tottering at 134/6 on day1 of the test. Symonds edged one at a cheap score and the scoreboard should have actually been reading 194/7. See, it's not about one decision. India's frustration went further because there was another close stump which was not being sent to third umpire and when watched later, it was again a out and again Symonds. The scoreboard was reading 234/6 then.

There were plenty of bad decisions in the latter part of the test which means even if you simply accept these terrible decisions by Bucknor and Benson, India would have still been able to draw the test match.

A correct decision on day 1 if the umpire Bucknor wasn't lose enough would have really put India into a strong position on day 1 considering that Aus would have been either 194/7 or 234/7(assuming one bad decision) with Symonds going back to the dressing room.

Yes, we can only speculate the result but it's completely harsh to say that at best India would have drawn the series. It actually should have been, " India would have actually quite easily draw this series and if not for bad luck, they might have gone on to win that test".

 

[Ab Fan]

*Not bad luck but bad umpiring

 

[Mamoon]

[MENTION=53290]Markhor[/MENTION] [MENTION=143937]ManFan[/MENTION]

The so-called GOAT Asian team cannot be excused for losing a Test to a minnow because of poor umpiring. If Kohli leads India to a Test defeat in Afghanistan today because of biased umpiring, would people accept it as a valid excuse?

Imran gets too much benefit of doubt because of his messiah-like figure. For most Pakistani’s, he is above criticism and they cannot discuss the metrics of his captaincy objectively.

He is the only captain who can get away with only 14 wins and only 3 away from home, sitting out of a series vs Australia because the weather was too hot for him to play, and play A Misbah Mohali innings in the 92 semifinal.

There is no doubt that Imran was a phenomenal cricketer and a tremendous captain, but his captaincy is not beyond criticism. 14 Tests wins are simply not enough for him to be considered as the greatest Asian Test captain.

Yes statistics are not everything but Miandad won the same number of matches in 13 less games, and Kohli has literally won twice more. Surely that has to count for something.

As far as comparisons with Misbah are concerned, he has won more matches but also lost a lot more, which clearly indicates that he is an inferior tactician.

Misbah’s higher number of wins can be attributed to the fact that he captained in a result-oriented era, but a result-oriented era means that it is also easier to lose matches.

That is where Kohli has been remarkable. Not only does he win matches at a tremendous rate, he is almost as difficult to beat as Imran.

The different eras also do not explain why Miandad won a lot more matches as well as lost fewer matches in the same number of games.

Kohli’s captaincy record is not flawless, but he has achieved enough to be considered superior to Imran. He has produced results, he has performed superbly individually, he has helped improve nearly every player except a few, and has transformed the culture of Indian cricket.

However, in my opinion, his legacy as captain in Limited Overs banks on the 2023 World Cup. If he fails to lead India to glory, Imran will remain as the superior ODI captain.

 

[Rajdeep]

Shastri must be removed for this statement alone.

 

[Heisenberg111]

Lmao, Shastri ji kam beer piya karein.

 

[angrypathan]

A legacy of getting flogged away from home

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

Lmao, Shastri ji kam beer piya karein.

I hope he is removed and Kohli is also removed from captaincy before the next World Cup. These two will never win any trophy for India.

 

[Junaids]

Legacy of losing series after series after series.

 

[happydavy]

I hope he is removed and Kohli is also removed from captaincy before the next World Cup. These two will never win any trophy for India.

The problem is if they end up winning the t20 world cup this year, that would be the real disaster. They will not stop talking about it that how that's all that matters and that the 2 of them are god send gift to India.

 

[aloo paratha]

No you don't

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

What a delusional guy.

Just checked the scorecard, India lost by 7 wickets. Duh!

 

[Rajdeep]

Legacy of losing series after series after series.

Hey, we won our last series in Australia remember?

Agreed we fare poorly in doctored green mambas that England, South Africa and NZ serves but in Australian conditions we have upper hand. After the thrashing of last series, Aussies are scared of Indian team and consider them as their biggest rival.

This year when we tour downunder, I have little doubt we will win again. It appears to me Tim Paine already known it and hence wanted to play a D/N test to somehow stop Indian juggernaut.