Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

'To hell with those who don't understand': Shastri on his bond with Ganguly

"To hell with those who don't understand" was Ravi Shastri's inimitable response to the skeptics, who have constantly made conjectures about his alleged frosty relationship with BCCI president Sourav Ganguly.

A week back, it was Ganguly who had cleared the air on his part making it clear that rumours of bad blood between him and the head coach of the Indian cricket team are merely "speculations".


"As far as the Sourav-Shastri 'game' goes, that is a brilliant chaat and bhelpuri for the media with all mirch and masala," Shastri said during an event.

"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, known for his plain speak, said.

The Ganguly-Shastri relationship became a topic of discussion after the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) comprising Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar and V.V.S. Laxman preferred Anil Kumble over him in 2016, with both having a public fallout.

Shastri termed Ganguly's ascension as the president of the cricket board as "outstanding" after three years without a democratic set-up.

"Oustanding (Sourav as BCCI president). First of all, I am thrilled that there is a BCCI in place. We played three years without a BCCI. which allowed the ICC to take off to another level."

For someone whose life has been an open book, the 57-year-old doesn't really give two hoots to all the abuses that are directed at him on social media.

"What is this social media, this troll? 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," Shastri said in a typical answer.

While he has always been known to be a tough cookie, Shastri did admit that being an India coach comes with its own baggage of pressure.

"Of course, you feel pressure. 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," he said.

For all his critics, he has a simple answer.

"You point one at me, there are three fingers pointing back at you, always remember that. So you are 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."

Shastri recollected how people reacted when he had commented that the current Indian team could become number one in the world.

"The game teaches you the hard yards. India was no.7 but there was belief. Just like I had belief in my ability as a player to go from 10 to 1. I had the belief this team could go 7 to 1. And when I said it two years ago, people said I was speaking French or Spanish."

He has no issues with people having varied opinion but he wanted to remind everyone that his voice can never be muzzled.

"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."

More For You

Parliament backs assisted dying in historic law shift

Supporters of the assisted dying law for terminally ill people hold a banner, on the day British lawmakers are preparing to vote on the bill, in London, Britain, June 20, 2025. REUTERS/Isabel Infantes

Parliament backs assisted dying in historic law shift

PARLIAMENT voted on Friday (20) in favour of a bill to legalise assisted dying, paving the way for the country's biggest social change in a generation.

314 lawmakers voted in favour with 291 against the bill, clearing its biggest parliamentary hurdle.

Keep ReadingShow less
Suchitra Krishnamoorthi

Facing strong criticism on social media for questioning the survival story

Getty Images

Suchitra Krishnamoorthi apologises after calling Ahmedabad plane crash survivor a ‘liar’

Actor and singer Suchitra Krishnamoorthi has issued a public apology after facing strong criticism on social media for questioning the survival story of Vishwas Kumar Ramesh, the sole survivor of the recent Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad.

Deleted post sparks backlash

The controversy began when Krishnamoorthi, known for her role in Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa, shared a now-deleted post on X (formerly Twitter) alleging that Vishwas Kumar Ramesh had fabricated his account of surviving the 12 June crash. In her post, she wrote:
“So this #vishwaskumarramesh lied about being a passenger on the plane & the only survivor? This is seriously weird. Didn't his family in the UK corroborate his story? What about his brother's funeral that he was seen giving kandha to? Deserve not only some serious punishment but some mental asylum time if this is true uff.”

Keep ReadingShow less
Brown Girls Do It Too; Poppy Jay & Rubina Pabani Break Taboo

Set against a cheekily colourful bedroom backdrop

AMG

'Brown Girls Do It Too' by Poppy and Rubina breaks taboos with comedy and heart

From the moment Poppy and Rubina stepped onto the stage of Soho Theatre in central London for Brown Girls Do It Too: Mama Told Me Not to Come, the energy was electric, the laughs non-stop, and the message loud and clear: British Asian women are done with silence.

What began as a ground-breaking, award-winning podcast that sparked online backlash for daring to talk openly about sex and relationships within South Asian communities has now evolved into arguably the most unique and fearless live show of the year.

Keep ReadingShow less
Air India

An Air India Airbus A320-200 aircraft takes off from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, India, July 7, 2017. Picture taken July 7, 2017.

Regulator warns Air India over delayed emergency equipment checks: Report

INDIA’s aviation regulator has warned Air India for violating safety rules after three of its Airbus aircraft operated flights without undergoing mandatory checks on emergency escape slides, according to official documents reviewed by Reuters.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued warning notices and a detailed investigation report highlighting the breach. These documents were sent days before the recent crash of an Air India Boeing 787-8, in which all but one of the 242 people onboard were killed. The Airbus incidents are unrelated to that crash.

Keep ReadingShow less
London’s “Hottest Curry” Challenge Leaves Diner Sweating

Raj follows with a large glass of mango lassi in an effort to cool him down

Instagram/ ub1ub2

London’s ‘hottest curry’ challenge ends with diner sweating on the pavement

A viral video has captured the intense aftermath of a food challenge involving what is being called London’s “hottest curry”, as a man was seen sweating and sitting on the pavement outside the restaurant shortly after attempting the dish.

The footage, shared by Instagram account UB1UB2: Southall, West London, shows a man identified as Daniel taking on the extreme curry challenge at Bengal Village, an Indian restaurant in East London. The video begins with restaurant owner Raj presenting the dish while wearing a gas mask — a precaution, it appears, against the powerful fumes of the curry.

Keep ReadingShow less