It's about completing games overseas: Ravi Shastri

England took an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match series after a 60-run win over India in the 4th Test at Southampton.

"You've got to get tough, mentally. We've run teams close overseas, but now it’s not about competing it’s about completing games," said Shastri.

"The endeavour is to learn, to understand where you made the mistakes, take it head on and try and correct it. The fact of the matter is that you had a chance. The scoreline says 3-1 which means India have lost the series. What the scoreline doesn't say is India could have been 3-1 or the scoreline could have been 2-2. And my team knows it.” Shastri said despite the series defeat, the team will look to give its best in the final Test match at the Oval.

"They would have hurt, and rightly so, after the last game. This is a team that will not throw in the towel. It will compete and not look to be on the first flight home, rest assured. And that’s exactly what well do," said Shastri.

The biggest problem for India in the series has been the poor form of its top order batsmen. Kohli has scored 544 runs so far in the series but apart from him Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane are the only batsmen to cross the 200-run mark in the series.

"Well you need the top order to start and if you see, no team has got such starts. It's been a challenge and it's about overcoming those challenges, about believing in yourself and your ability and hoping for some luck on the way," said Shastri.

Quizzed on what Indian players could learn from the loss at Southampton, Shastri said: "Shot selection left a lot to be desired. We blew away a very good position straight away after tea on day two [at Southampton]. That's an area you can tighten. Being more aware of what the team needs, being more aware of the match situation. That will be a big help. I think that was crucial."

"It’s about being aware of being in a good situation and then capitalising, not doing something silly to open the door for the opposition. I thought at 180/4 (in 1st innings) there was a definite chance of a 75-80 run lead and that would have been crucial."

Shastri added that the most important thing for the current unit is continue believing in its abilities as it already has achieved things that many others have not in the past.

"The endeavour of this team is to travel well and to compete and win. If you look at the last three years, we won nine matches overseas and three series. I can't see any other Indian team in the last 15-20 years who have had that kind of run in such a short time. And you've had some great players in those series. Its just [about] being tougher mentally. You've got to hurt, to lose such matches because that's when you look within and come out with the right kind of answer. To combat such situations again and get past the finishing line. One day you will, as long as you believe."