(Eds: Adding a dropped word in third para)Kolkata, Nov 14 (PTI) India's chief coach Ravi Shastritoday once again extended unflinching support to MahendraSingh Dhoni, saying those commenting on the two-time World Cupwinning former skipper should look back at their own careers.
A few former India players, including VVS Laxman and AjitAgarkar, recently raised questions about Dhoni's T20I future,creating quite a storm in the country's cricketing circles.
"People should look back at their career beforecommenting on Dhoni. The former captain has a lot of cricketleft in him and it is the duty of the team to back thelegend," Shastri said.
Shastri was having a look at the bat autographed by the2011 World Cup winning Indian team at the Fanattic SportsMuseum.
The coach further said the culture of the current team isbased on performance and quality.
"There is no one better than Dhoni on the field given hisability behind the wicket and with the bat and his presence ofmind and sharpness on the field."Shastri lauded the players' athleticism and said: "Interms of fielding this team is the very best in the world atthe moment and that's something that separates this team fromIndian teams of the past."India will take on Sri Lanka in three Tests beginningwith the Eden five-dayer on November 16, and this will beShastri's first home Test series.
"This team always turns up on the park to win. We hope towin the series spread over one and half months before going toSouth Africa."Hardik Pandya has been rested for the series and Shastrisaid: "This team is not about one particular individual, welose together, we win together."Earlier, accompanied by bowling coach Bharat Arun,Shastri spent about two hours admiring the Fanattic SportsMuseum curated and set up by sports historian Boria Majumdar.
While taking a stance with Sir Donald Bradman's bat from1948, the former all-rounder said: "The quality of wood issuch you can still play a few shots with it."He compared Virat Kohli's bat with Sir Don's and donatedhis 2015 World Cup team directors' jersey and cap to themuseum collection, and was particularly impressed with theUsain Bolt memorabilia.
Picking Bolt and Mohammed Ali as two of his personalfavourites, Shastri said: "Every Indian cricketer should makea trip to the museum and enjoy the collection."Arun, too, was impressed and said: "I would loveyoungsters training at the NCA to come to a place like thisand absorb in cricket history." PTI TAP AHPM.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.