‘Let them sit in Australia and talk about their pitches. Tell them not to waste their time about Indian tracks. Come and play here’
South Africa's nine-year stretch of never losing an away Test series ended on Friday, when India posted a 124-run win in the third match of the ongoing series.
The Proteas were bundled out for 79 in their first innings, with spinner accounting for 33 of the 40 wickets to fall in total.
Many had criticized the track at Nagpur, which offered turn from day 1.
Allrounder Glenn Maxwell described the 'minefield' pitch as 'diabolical' on Twitter, while former opener Matthew Hayden was disappointed to "see the quality of Test cricket reduced to what we are witnessing".
Shastri, who played 80 Tests and 150 ODIs for India, was unimpressed.
"Let them sit in Australia and talk about their pitches. Tell them not to waste their time about Indian tracks. Come and play here," Shastri told ESPNcricinfo.
"When we go overseas we don't have any choices. Why would you complain?"
Shastri pointed out that 13 wickets fell on day two of the ongoing day-night Test in Adelaide, while the Ashes were decided this year in a Trent Bridge Test that almost finished on day two.
"Where did you see (it) breaking up into a nice wicket and fifth-day turn (in those games)," he noted.
"Which rule tells me that a ball can't turn on day one?
"Where does it tell me in the rulebook it can only swing and seam?
"(Nagpur) was a Test match that was moving all the time.
"Compare this Test to the Test match in Perth."
The second trans-Tasman Test was a run-fest on a flat WACA wicket, with all manner of run-scoring records broken.
"I would pay money for a ticket for this (Nagpur) game.
"To hell with the five days," Shastri said.
IMAGE: India's team director Ravi Shastri. Photograph: PTI