Ravi Shastri and Ajinkya Rahane during the Press Conference. (Courtesy - BCCI)

XtraTime Web Desk - It was a rollercoaster ride for team India the throughout the Border-Gavaskar trophy but it's Ajinkya Rahane and his boys who had the last laugh by beating Australia at their fortress by 3 wickets to clinch the series.

In the press conference, when Ravi Shastri and Ajinkya Rahane was asked whether they were emotional after the history win, Shastri said, “I got emotional. I'm not generally a person who has tears in his eyes but I had. Absolute real tears in my eyes because this is unreal, what these guys have pulled off will go down in history as one of the greatest series ever ok played. When you look into the Covid situations and the state of injuries and then show a stomach for a fight after being bowled out for 36 is unimaginable”.

Ajinkya Rahane, the captain of this tour also said that he got emotional. “Yes, I was emotional too. I still don't know what happened and still don't know how to describe this victory but credit to each end every individual. If you see, everyone contributed. Credit to all the newcomers who chipped in. Nattu played his first test match, bowled so well. Shardul Thakur played his second test match, he contributed with the bat and bowl. Washington Sundar batted very well, bowled well. Pujara's contribution. Ashwin bowled well throughout the series. Unfortunately got injured in the 3rd test match but yeah I was really emotional too”.

Coach Ravi Shastri then said that the team wanted to play natural cricket all along even if they win or draw. “I think right from the very beginning, we had a chat and said let's play normal cricket. Just play your natural game. Don't try to manufacture something. Try to set the game up more than anything. Take it session by session and then if you get a opportunity towards the end and you have wickets in hand, then you can think for going for it but the innings Gill played, really set the platform. It was an outstanding innings for someone on his first tour at Australia, a bouncy Gabba track to take on the attack the way he did. He got the momentum going and then there was Rishabh Pant, you can't change his style of play. He kept looking at the scoreboard and you know he had some other ideas”.

Ajinkya Rahane then said how Ravi Shastri's backing helped him and the Indian team. “Ravi bhai's contribution matters a lot for us. The way he handled the situation and supported us not only in this series but in all the tours before this. He had backed us in 2018 also when we won in Australia. I personally have learned a lot from him. The way he backed the team, made my job as a captain easy”.

Ravi Shastri then praised Rahane by saying, “Feeling defeated is one thing but giving up isn't in our vocabulary, the team showed it. Virat may not be here but his character & personality stamp is there for everyone to see in the team. For Ajinkya to take over the way he did was simply unreal”.