'Rubbish': Rohit Sharma's sharp reply to Ravi Shastri's 'overconfidence' criticism

India skipper Rohit Sharma has hit back at former coach Ravi Shastri's criticism that Team India lost the Indore Test against Australia due to "a little complacency, a little bit of overconfidence". India were leading 2-0 before coming into the Indore Test, which they lost to Australia in just over two days. "Honestly, when you win two games and people on the outside feel that we are overconfident, it's absolutely rubbish, because you want to do your best in all four games," Rohit Sharma said, referring to Ravi Shastri's criticism.

"Ravi himself has been in this dressing room, he knows what sort of mindset we have," said the Indian skipper said. The fourth and final test of the Australia series starts tomorrow in Ahmedabad and Team India will be looking to clinch the series and book their berth in the World Test Championship final.

"You don't want to stop by winning two games. It is as simple as that. Obviously, all these guys, when they talk about being overconfident and all and especially when they are not part of dressing room, they dont know what sort of talk happens in dressing room," Rohit said further.


Former Indian cricketer Ravi Shastri who was the Indian team's head coach for six out of seven years from 2014.

"This is what a little complacency, a little bit of overconfidence can do where you take things for granted, you drop guard and this game will bring you down," Shastri had said on air while doing commentary after India lost by nine wickets to Australia in Indore.

Rohit Sharma also heaped praise on Australian bowlers, particularly two inexperienced spinners Todd Murphy and Matthew Kuhnemann, who were instrumental in putting pressure on Indian batsmen. "Both have been good. Murphy in the first game got 7 wickets and Kuhnemann got a fifer in the last test match. So they have got potential to exploit these conditions and obviously when you have an attacking spinner like Lyon you need someone from the other end to compliment as well," Rohit Sharma said.

"These guys have shown that they can handle that pressure. Having come out of two losses it is not easy to come out and get the job done especially on the back of two losses," the Indian skipper added.