Ind vs Aus-Ravi Shastri says, no other captain can emulate Virat Kohli’s success: The Indian team has shown tremendous character to pull back the second Test after a horrific loss in Adelaide and is all geared to continue their scintillating form in the upcoming Sydney Test starting Jan 7, However, coach Ravi Shashtri is of the opinion that Virat Kohli’s historic achievement of beating Australia both at home and away might not be emulated by any other Indian captain.
The Virat Kohli-led team secured India’s maiden Test series win in Down Under when they had defeated Australia in their own den to clinch the four-match series 2-1 the last time Team India traveled Down Under in 2018-19.
Ravi Shastri on Wednesday launched a new book at SCG that details India’s Test cricket battles in Australia across more than seven decades and unveiled a portrait of the legendary Sunil Gavaskar at SCG. Shastri highlighted the significance of India’s 2-1 series triumph over Australia in 2018/19, in his foreword for the book which is titled ‘India’s 71-Year Test: The Journey to Triumph in Australia’.
“The satisfaction gained in registering India’s first series win in Australia after 71 years of heartbreak was immense,” Shastri wrote in the book.
“I can’t see Virat’s feat of winning against Australia both at home and away from being emulated by another Indian captain for a very long time.
“The great thing about success in Australia is that it doesn’t come easily. As a professional sportsperson, you know that when you win the hard way, you command respect.
#TeamIndia Head Coach @RaviShastriOfc launched 'India's 71-Year Test: The Journey to Triumph in Australia', a new book by @BradmanBowral , at the @scg today.
He also unveiled a portrait of the legendary Sunil Gavaskar. pic.twitter.com/EP4UXoqHAq
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 6, 2021
“Indian teams have done well in Australia since the turn of the (21st) century but didn’t have the depth of fast-bowling resources. That’s why this Indian team commanded respect from the hard-to-please Aussies like few others in the past,” Shastri added.
“From experience, I can state emphatically there is no such entity as a weak Australian side, especially in their own backyard,” Shastri wrote in his foreword.
“Anyone who thinks otherwise is uninformed.
“Australians hate losing and it’s a thought process entertained not just by the 11 on the field, but the whole nation, the fans and the media.
“When a team tours Australia there is a combined assault like no other. Remember that, and remember that again.”