Team India working as a unit: Shastri

Ravi Shastri must have taken some time in opening out, but when he did that finally he dropped a huge bomb.

Ravi Shastri must have taken some time in opening out, but when he did that finally he dropped a huge bomb. A month after Greg Chappell quit the job as Team India coach, new manager Shastri today took a dig at the Aussie legend, ridiculing the Indian team8217;s efforts during his tenure.

8220;In the last six months, the Indian team has been playing cricket like it8217;s a desk job, as if they were doing some 9 to 5 job. This is sport, and you are here to enjoy 8212; I didn8217;t like the way the Indian team has been playing in the last six months,8221; a candid Shastri told reporters this afternoon.

India8217;s manager for the Bangladesh tour was speaking at a press conference after the five-day conditioning camp got over at the Eden Gardens. Shastri8217;s criticism of India8217;s showing in the last half a year or so comes at a time when Rahul Dravid 038; Co are serving strict gag orders from the BCCI, ahead of the Bangladesh tour.

Interestingly, the former India captain reckons that it8217;s high time the players start enjoying the game. 8220;Cricket is about enjoying the game, and that8217;s what I want the players to do 8212; enjoy,8221; an expressive Shastri rattled off.

At a time when Indian cricket is dogged by fears of factionalism among the seniors, Shastri went on the offensive, uninitiated, bringing up the topic himself. 8220;Well, now that you have seen the camp for five days, did you see any groups out there? Did you see factions in different corners? The camaraderie among the players is unbelievable. In fact, it took me an hour to figure out that these players make for a great unit,8221; he said.

Shastri8217;s statement on 8216;unity8217; among players comes at a time when the seniors are putting their differences behind them in the wake of the contracts imbroglio. As for the questions raised over Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly, Shastri came to the rescue of the twosome. 8220;They are not finished yet,8221; he said. 8220;And those who are raising questions about Sachin, will be in for a pleasant surprise 8212; just see what happens!8221;

Shastri8217;s explosive remark, however, overshadowed a conscious effort from the interim manager to shift the focus from India8217;s disastrous World Cup campaign. 8220;I want to live in the present and I believe in it. Let us forget the past. I am a guy who thinks only of the present, not the past, not even of the far future,8221; said Shastri when asked to recall India8217;s showing in the recent past.

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The former all-rounder, who has formally announced that he won8217;t continue with Indian cricket8217;s top job after the Bangladesh tour, took the spree of injuries to the players in his stride. 8220;Injuries are bound to happen, you cannot help it. You are playing with marbles here. They will be fine, and they are waiting to take ground in Bangladesh,8221; he said.

As for Dravid, who skipped the last day8217;s training today after taking a blow on the nose yesterday while batting, Shastri assured that he8217;s going to be fit for the first ODI to be played at Mirpur on May 10. 8220;Rahul is a tough cookie, he8217;ll recover in time,8221; Shastri said.