"Virat worships Test match cricket," Shastri calls Team India the 'ambassador of Test cricket'

India completed 14 consecutive Test series wins at home with their victory over New Zealand.

By - 07 Dec, 2021

Indian cricket team performed very well in the Test format under the leadership of Virat Kohli and former head coach Ravi Shastri for nearly four years. The duo worked together to push the limits of Team India in the longest format of the game. 

Now, Shastri has given up his role in the team, but that hasn't affected the team's focus from the Test cricket. They have built a solid team for red-ball cricket and the team would surely look to continue their dominance all over the world. 

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The ex-India head coach called the Indian cricket team ‘ambassador’ of Test cricket and added that captain Kohli worships this format. "I think if any team has been an ambassador for Test match over the last five years, it is this Indian cricket team. 

"Virat worships Test match cricket, as do most of the team, which might surprise the world because of the amount of one-day cricket India plays, then IPL. If you ask anyone in the team, 99 percent of them would say they love Test match cricket. That’s why, what India have done in the last five years – remain as the No. 1 team in the world at the end of every year," Shastri told renowned author Jeffrey Archer on his podcast.

India have managed to beat Australia twice in their home - 2018-19 and 2020-21. They also took a lead of 2-1 on the England tour, earlier this year before the series was postponed due to the COVID-19 breakout.

Shastri said they have strengthed their fast-bowling attack with their rise in Test cricket and they have among the most fierce group of pacers. "We may have lost the one-off WTC final against New Zealand – but otherwise We have dominated the format for the last five years. 

"To win two series in Australia, to win the series that was taking place in England, to win everywhere around the world – white-ball and red-ball cricket, and to set a benchmark in red-ball cricket, the fast bowlers coming to the fore – unheard of from the Indian cricket team – it was remarkable," he said.

"For me, the greatest legacy this generation and this lot of players will leave is the way they have played Test cricket and embraced it."

Rahul Dravid has taken over the role of head coach in Team India. India managed to win the first T20I and Test series under his coaching against New Zealand. 

The Indian cricket team have won 14 series on the trot at home and they have lost only two matches over more than 8 years.

By - 07 Dec, 2021

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