India great Sunil Gavaskar praised former India coach Ravi Shastri and recalled the famous Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2020-21 win. India has a good record in Test cricket under the coaching stint of Shastri, which ended with the conclusion of the T20 World Cup 2021.

The last Australia tour, on which India won the Test series by 2-1, will always be remembered in Indian cricket history. It was their second Test series win Down Under, but this time the team had fought very hard to achieve success.

Team India started the series with a humiliating loss in Adelaide where they were bowled out for their lowest Test score of 36 runs. The team fought back with a win in Melbourne, and then a hard-fought draw in Sydney. They did the unthinkable by breaching the Gabba fortress in the last Test and sealed the series.

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Speaking on Star Sports, Gavaskar lauded Shastri and mentioned his famous words after the embarrassment in Adelaide. “It obviously has got to be the way India bounced back earlier this year after being dismissed for 36 (in Adelaide Pink Ball Test). Because when something like that happens, the team tends to lose belief in itself, there is a sense of disappointment and there is a sense of giving up. And that is where Shastri played a huge role because from what I’ve read, is that he said that ‘you wear this 36 like a badge’.

“And then Ajinkya Rahane, the way he led the side in the three Tests, and of course everyone stepped up. We played almost like an A team, not even the regular team. But every player who played in that, every replaced player came in and did well. And that again tells you the kind of influence and input that Ravi Shastri had on the younger players and the fringe players who are waiting for their opportunities,” said Gavaskar.

It was a special win considering they missed their Test specialists due to injury, but the replacements didn't disappoint and made sure the team doesn't miss the first preference players.

(With Star Sports Inputs)