Ravi Shastri faced a lot of criticism for rating Virat Kohli-led Indian Cricket Team's Test series triumph in Australia above India's maiden World Cup success in 1983, but that views could not change his controversial statement as former skipper is still stood by his words now.
Recently, India made history by winning their first Down Under in 11 trips spanning 71 years in Australia and Shastri feels their 2-1 triumph in the four-match Test series over the cricketing superpowers on their own turf cannot be underestimated as Test cricket is the toughest format of the game.
On Tuesday (5th February), in an interview with Cricbuzz, Shastri, Indian cricket team head coach, has defended his comments, saying it is always difficult to win a Test series in Australia, but India did in a style despite coming there to duel with heavyweight champions of Test cricket.
Shastri said, “I will tell you how satisfying it is for me. World Cup 1983, World Championship of Cricket 1985 - this is as big, or even bigger because it is in the truest (Test) format of the game. It’s Test cricket, which is meant to be the toughest.”
The coach signed off by explaining, “In 1983, I was in the dressing room. In 1985, I was in the dressing room. In 2018-19, I was in the dressing room. Why do I rate this? Because Test cricket is the purest form and we came to Australia as heavyweight champions of Test cricket, home and away. We were not favorites - no team can come to Australia as favorites because Australia will chew them out. But we were not underdogs to come and surprise them either. We came as number one Test side and we played as the number one Test side, and we won.”
(With Cricbuzz Inputs)
