Calcutta: Once again, head coach Ravi Shastri insisted how well the current crop of India players have been performing in overseas conditions, which is "better than that of the Indian teams of the last 15-20 years."
In the last three years, the current crop won nine Tests abroad, winning three series, Shastri reminded ahead of the final Test that begins at The Oval on Friday.
For the record, India's series victories were in Sri Lanka (twice) and the West Indies - two teams that aren't considered to be formidable in the longest format. And of the nine wins, as many as seven were against these two teams...
However, with India having lost the Test series against England too after losing in South Africa earlier this year, Shastri said that the team needs to be tough mentally. His remark comes after his comment - "there's no negative bone in this team" - ahead of the third Test at Trent Bridge.
Now, during Wednesday's media conference in London, Shastri said: "You need to be tough mentally. We have run teams close overseas and we have been competed. But now it's not about just competing. We have to win games from here onwards.
"The endeavour now is to understand where you made the mistakes, take it head on and try to correct it. The scoreline says 3-1, which means India, have lost the series. What the scoreline doesn't say is that India could have been 3-1 ahead or it could have been 2-2, and this team knows it.
"They are hurt and rightly so after the last game. Having said that, this is a team that will not throw in the towel."
Working on shot selection can help batsmen improve and cross the 'finish' line, Shastri pointed out. "Shot selection left a lot to be desired.
"We blew away a very good position straight away after tea on Day 2 (in Southampton). That's an area where you can tighten and be aware of what the team needs. Being aware of the match situation will be a big help. I think that was crucial more than anything else.
"I thought at 180 for four, there was a definite chance of us taking a 75-80-run lead, and that would have been crucial. So, not being to do that hurts.
"The Edgbaston Test too could have gone either way because we had our share of luck as well. At one time England were in the driving seat, but we managed to come back. In fact, there was a stage where you could have been really ahead of the game, after the job the bowlers did on Day 1 of that Test," the head coach added.
About the Kohli-led team being ahead of their predecessors in terms of performing away from home, Shastri elaborated: "The endeavour of this team is to travel well, compete and win. I can't see any other Indian team in the last 15-20 years that has had the same run in such a short time, and you have had some great players playing in those series.
"So, the promise is there, and it's just about getting tougher mentally. You have got to feel hurt when you lose matches because that's when you look within and come out with the right kind of answers to combat such situations and get past the finishing line. One day you will do so if you believe," said Shastri.
Claiming that Ravichandran Ashwin was fit, Shastri credited Moeen Ali for his wonderful bowling in his comeback Test. "Ashwin was fit... You have to give credit to Moeen Ali there on the last day (In Southampton).
"He bowled magnificently. Moeen hit those patches more than Ashwin, as simple as that," said Shastri.
Asked about Hardik Pandya's ability to bat number six, Shastri replied: "When you're young, you've got to be thrown into the deep end. You've got to persevere and see if it works or not."
