India cricket team coach made a bold claim by stating that India’s away Test series win against Australia – their first-ever Down Under – is equal or bigger than the 1983 World Cup or 1985 World Championships win. On Monday, India and Australia drew the fourth Test at Sydney for the visitors to win the series 2-1. This is India’s first Test series win in Australia since they started touring the region in 1947.
“I will tell you how satisfying it is for me. World Cup 1983, World Championship of Cricket 1985 – this is as big, or even bigger, because it is in the truest (Test) format of the game. It’s Test cricket, which is meant to be the toughest,” Shastri said in the post-match press conference.
Not someone who shies away from expressing his thoughts, Shastri said that he believes in living in the present as he lauded skipper Virat Kohli.
“Past is history, future is a mystery. We have won today after 71 years and I’d like to live in the present. And salute my captain for being the captain of the team that beat Australia for the first time in Australia in a series,” he added.
Shastri went on to repeat what he has often said about the skipper, his passion and ability to lead from the front.
“I don’t think anyone plays Test cricket with more passion than he does. At least I don’t see any other international captain coming close to him on the field when it comes to showing that passion needed to play the game,” the former all-rounder said.
“He is very expressive, which is different to others. Other captains could have different personalities but Virat is someone who is in your face and it rubs off on all the youngsters who are watching the game in India,” he tried explain the skipper’s persona.
