India all-rounder Shardul Thakur has opened up about the difficult conditions encountered by the Indian cricket team during their 2020-21 tour of Australia.
Despite the injury concerns and setbacks, India managed to emerge victorious. The visitors suffered a humiliating defeat in the first Test in Adelaide after getting bowled out for a mere 36 runs, but bounced back to clinch the series 2-1.
It was a truly remarkable feat for Team India as they pulled off a series win against all odds. After leading the side in the opening Test, Virat Kohli left for home to attend the birth of his first child and he couldn’t return for the remainder of the series due to strict COVID-19 protocols.
Moreover, star pace Mohammad Shami sustained an injury in the first Test and couldn’t take any further part in the series. However, the predominantly young team under the captaincy of Ajinkya Rahane turned things around in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.
The third Test in Sydney ended in a draw, while India humbled Australia in Brisbane to win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Shardul, who played a critical role in the team's success, recently shed light on the harsh treatment endured by the Indian players throughout the tour Down Under.
"The way they treated us was very horrible. Four or five days, there won't be any housekeeping services in the hotel. You want to change your bedsheets, you would have to walk up the stairs for four or five floors, get the bedsheets. when you're tired, come, change it, do your own things," said Shardul at a recent event.
"Going from Sydney to Brisbane, we also heard the governor, the lady governor of Queensland saying that if Indians don't want to come here, well, don't come. We don't want to host them or we're not happy hosting them," he further said.
Shardul Thakur also slammed then Australian Test skipper Tim Paine for saying in the media that Indian team got everything they wanted during the tour.
"There were a lot of negative things that were being said about us to put us under pressure. I heard some interviews from Tim Paine. That man was absolutely lying because he was just saving himself by making up things in the media and covering up that we didn't put any pressure on the Indian team and we gave them whatever they wanted," the all-rounder remarked.
"But I know the truth of it. Our coach Ravi Shastri, Virat had left, and Ajinkya was leading. They both were in a regular fight with the cricketing board of Australia to get the things that we wanted," he added.
