Xtra Time Web Desk: “Forget India, the whole world will stand up and salute you”. These words by Team India Head Coach Ravi Shastri sum up the effort of Ajinkya Rahane and his boys who showed steely nerves and determination to pull off an incredible test series win over Australia at Gabba on Tuesday. It was the first time an overseas team breached Gabba since 32 years. The last time Australia lost a test at Gabba was way back in 1988 against the West Indies. India’s series win speaks volumes of the mental strength and determination after the aberration of 36 all out in the first test at Adelaide.
Following the series win, Team India’s head coach Ravi Shastri delivered a rousing speech in the dressing room, earmarking some of the key performers from the Gabba Test and the series in general.
He lavished praise on Shubman Gill for his fluent 91 and hailed Cheteshwar Pujara as the ultimate warrior for his gallant 211 ball 56 in the second innings at Gabba. According to Shastri, Rishabh Pant was “simply outstanding”, despite having given some heart attacks while batting.
“It doesn”t come overnight but now that you have this self-belief, you can see where you have taken a game as a team. Today forget India, the whole world will stand up and salute you,” Shastri said.
Watch Shastri’s speech in the dressing room here:
Shastri also praised debutants Washington Sundar and T Natarajan, as well as Shardul Thakur, saying that Thakur and Sundar’s 123-run partnership in India’s first essay was what “broke Australia’s back”.
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