“To hell with those who don’t understand” was Ravi Shastri’s inimitable response to the sceptics, 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 ‘India Today’ channel’s special programme ‘Inspiration’.

“What he has done as 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.

Shastri termed Ganguly’s ascension as the president of the cricket board as “outstanding” after three years without a democratic set-up.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.. It is just to tell my fans, I am here and what I am doing. Bolne waale bolenege . 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.

“Of course, you feel pressure. For ‘Chrissake’, 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.