Xtra Time Web Desk: Team India Head Coach Ravi Shastri has made a huge statement on Indian captain Virat Kohli. Shastri is of the opinion that Virat Kohli’s historic achievement of beating Australia both at home and away might not be emulated by any other Indian captain.
Kohli-led Indian team made history when they secured India’s maiden Test series win 2-1 in Down Under in 2018/19 tour.
During the launch of the book ‘India’s 71-Year Test: The Journey to Triumph in Australia, ’Shastri highlighted the significance of India’s 2-1 series triumph over Australia in 2018/19. In fact he wrote the foreward of the book written by noted cricket writer R Kaushik. The book details India’s Test cricket battles in Australia across more than seven decades.
“The satisfaction gained in registering India’s first series win in Australia after 71 years of heartbreak was immense,” Shastri wrote in his foreword.
He added, “I can’t see Virat’s feat of winning against Australia both at home and away from being emulated by another Indian captain for a very long time.
“The great thing about success in Australia is that it doesn’t come easily. As a professional sportsperson, you know that when you win the hard way, you command respect.
“Indian teams have done well in Australia since the turn of the (21st) century but didn’t have the depth of fast-bowling resources. That’s why this Indian team commanded respect from the hard-to-please Aussies like few others in the past,” Shastri added.
“From experience, I can state emphatically there is no such entity as a weak Australian side, especially in their own backyard,” Shastri wrote in his foreword.
“Anyone who thinks otherwise is uninformed.
“Australians hate losing and it’s a thought process entertained not just by the 11 on the field, but the whole nation, the fans and the media.
“When a team tours Australia there is a combined assault like no other. Remember that, and remember that again.”
Shastri also unveiled a portrait of the legendary Sunil Gavaskar at SCG.