Team India’s upcoming five-test Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in November promises to be a thrilling contest as they aim for a historic hat-trick of test series wins on Australian soil. After claiming victories in the 2018/19 and 2020/21 series, both by a margin of 2-1, India faces an even greater challenge this time with a five-match series, unlike the previous four-test battles.
The 2020/21 series remains etched in the memories of cricket fans, not only because of India’s triumph but also due to the resilience and fighting spirit they displayed. After India’s humiliating collapse in the first test at Adelaide where they recorded their lowest ever test score of 36, many counted the team out. To make the matters worse, captain Virat Kohli returned home after the first test, leaving behind a squad plagued by injuries. Key players like Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and KL Rahul were ruled out at different points during the series.
However, despite these setbacks, the team pulled off one of the most remarkable comebacks in the test cricket history. First they won the Melbourne test, then they went on to secure a draw in Sydney, followed by an unforgettable win at the Gabba in Brisbane, a venue where Australia had remained unbeaten for 32 years. The victory cemented India’s status as a formidable test team.
In the aftermath of the Adelaide loss, morale in the Indian camp was understandably low but the former head coach Ravi Shastri played a crucial role in lifting the team’s spirits. Ravichandran Ashwin, one of the standout performers in the series, recently revealed that Ravi Shastri organized a team dinner that same evening to ease the tension. He even turned on karaoke and began singing to lighten the mood, helping the players recover mentally from the crushing defeat.
During an interview, Ashwin stated that they were not thinking about winning the series as the atmosphere of the team was down but in the evening, the then head coach Ravi Shastri organized a team dinner and he also switched on karaoke and started singing. Ashwin added that slowly other also followed Ravi Shastri which eased the tension a little bit.
Ravichandran Ashwin further said that Virat Kohli was leaving the team and their intention was to go positive from there, go and win the Melbourne test. He added that they didn’t think of winning the series, instead they focused on small targets and took each match individually.
Looking ahead, team India’s upcoming calendar is packed with high-stakes matches, including 10 tests that will determine their fate in the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. Currently holding the top spot in the WTC rankings, India will need to maintain their momentum to qualify for the next year’s final. Their journey will on September 19 when India will face Bangladesh in the first test of a two-match series in Chennai. After the Bangladesh series, India will host New Zealand for another five-Test series, setting the stage for an intense period of test cricket.
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy in November will undoubtedly be the marquee event, as India seeks to continue its dominance in Australia and make history with a third consecutive series win on Australian soil.
