Shastri slams critics, says Dhoni is a superstar

Team India Head coach Ravi Shastri feels that senior pro M.S. Dhoni is an "ultimate team man"

Kolkata: Ravi Shastri launched a no holds barred attack on former Indian cricketers who demanded MS Dhoni's axing from Team India by going on to the extent of terming them 'jelous' and 'insecure'.

"Looks like there are a lot of jealous people around, who just want Dhoni to have a couple of bad days.... There are a few people who are waiting to see the end of M. S. Dhoni. But great players like him decide their own future," Shastri told ABP.

Dhoni came under heavy criticism after failing to rotate the strike and keep up with the asking rate of more than 12 runs per over on a flat pitch. India went on to lose the 2^nd T20I to New Zeland by 40 runs.

However, Shastri rubbished the claims of looking beyond Dhoni. Echoing captain Kohli’s views, Shastri pointed out Dhoni’s overall contribution to the team.

"It (the criticism) doesn't make a difference to me. In our mind we know where Dhoni stands within the team. He is an ultimate team-man. He was a great leader and now an ultimate team-man."

In a dig at some former cricketers including Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman and Ajit Agarkar who were critical of Dhoni and have suggested his removal from the T20 side, he said: "Not so long ago I used to do television and people used to ask me questions. You need to answer questions to make a show happen.

"Dhoni is a superstar. He is one of our greatest cricketers. So he is always going to be a great topic. He is always going to be a topic because he is a legend. When you have a career as glorious as that, you become a topic on television."

Shastri pointed out that Dhoni, who has retired from Test cricket, has averaged over 65 in One Day Internationals over the last one year and helped India win matches in Sri Lanka and against Australia at home in the last series only.