Shastri compared the Bumrah-Akash partnership with Bumrah-Shami at Lord's in 2021.
Australia had put on 445 runs, after being asked to bat first by chose to bat first. Travis Head and Steve Smith scored brilliant centuries and added 214 runs together. For India, Jasprit Bumrah was the star with 6/76 in 28 overs.
In reply, India managed 260 runs, thanks to 84 from KL Rahul, 77 from Ravindra Jadeja, and a crucial last-wicket partnership between Jasprit Bumrah and Akash Deep. Australia tried to eke out a result by declaring their second innings at 89/7, with Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj taking three wickets apiece.
But the rain played spoilsport as India made 8/0, chasing a 275-run target, and the match ended in a draw.
Ravi Shastri reflected on the importance of the Indian team avoiding the follow-on at the Gabba.
“You should celebrate. It required a lot of character from the last pair with 35-36 runs needed. That celebration showed, they knew the importance of that effort within the dressing room in the context of the series,” Shastri said on ICC Review.
“It's one thing following on, it's one thing then again being 2-3 down as opposed to, you going ahead and rattling the Australian top-order. It is fully justified,” he added.
“It reminded me of the celebration, when in COVID times when Jasprit and Mohammed Shami were involved in a partnership at Lord’s, which turned the game on its head. England were odds on favorites on the final day to win the Test. And that partnership, I think of about 80 or 90, suddenly turned the game on its head, and by the end of the day, India had won the Test match,” he said.
For Shastri, India's recent Test cricket victories have frequently been defined by the tail-enders' tenacity and persistence.
“When the tail-enders are stubborn, they fight it out there. It makes a massive difference. It did it on the last tour. When Ashwin and Hanuma Vihari batted the whole of the last session to save the game, going into the Gabba and then winning the series,” Shastri noted.
Such performances energize the entire team and provide a psychological advantage in high-stakes games. Shastri believes that the fight shown in this Test will be key for India as the series progresses.
With the Brisbane Test ending in a draw, the five-Test series now stands at 1-1 level, with the 4th Test scheduled at the MCG on December 26 and the 5th Test at the SCG on January 3rd.
“It'll lift the Indian team. And for me, the series is on a level peg now and India might just be calling the shots. Massive. They would give anything for a 1-1 result. The first Test is in Perth, the second Test is a day-nighter in Adelaide, and then the third Test is in Brisbane. Any overseas team will, you know, settle for a 1-1 score because come Melbourne, come Sydney, I think India will be powerful,” he stated.
Despite being pushed to the brink in the third Test, Shastri believes that India now finds themselves in a strong position.
“They've been kept in this series single-handedly by Jasprit Bumrah. If the big boys wake up, and step up to the plate which I just get the gut feeling they will, then Australia has a problem on their hands. Yeah, they got out of jail but they are not on bail. They are free birds in Melbourne. They can do what they want and come and attack Australia on Boxing Day,” he concluded.
(ICC inputs)