BGT 2024-25: Ravi Shastri Supports India's Celebration After Evading Follow-On in Brisbane
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New Delhi, Dec 20 (NationPress) Former India head coach Ravi Shastri asserts that the Rohit Sharma-led team was entirely justified in their celebrations after successfully avoiding the follow-on during the rain-affected third Test against Australia in Brisbane, which resulted in the five-match series being tied at 1-1.
On Day Four at the Gabba, Akash Deep managed to slice a delivery from Pat Cummins over the gully for a boundary, which allowed India to escape the follow-on, sparking jubilant celebrations in the dressing room led by captain Rohit Sharma, head coach Gautam Gambhir, and Virat Kohli.
Despite the surprise of some players in the Australian camp, Shastri saw nothing wrong with the celebrations. “You should celebrate. It required a lot of character from the last pair with 35-36 runs needed. That celebration indicated their understanding of the significance of that effort within the dressing room context of the series,” he commented.
“It's one thing to follow on, and another to be 2-3 down compared to rattling the Australian top-order. It is completely justified,” Shastri stated during the ICC Review show.
Reflecting on the events in Brisbane, Shastri recalled the crucial 89-run partnership between Bumrah and Mohammed Shami during the 2021 series against England at Lord’s, which India ultimately won. He emphasized the significance of lower-order batsmen rescuing India from challenging situations.
“It reminded me of the celebration during COVID times when Jasprit and Mohammed Shami formed a partnership at Lord’s, which turned the game in India’s favor. England looked likely to win on the final day, but that partnership of around 80 or 90 runs changed everything, and India emerged victorious,” he remarked.
“When the tail-enders are persistent, it makes a substantial difference. It happened previously when Ashwin and Hanuma Vihari batted through the last session to save a game, leading to victory at Gabba and clinching the series,” he added.
With the series now tied at 1-1 ahead of the Boxing Day Test at the MCG, Shastri believes the determination demonstrated by India in avoiding the follow-on at Brisbane will significantly motivate the visitors in the upcoming matches.
“It will boost the Indian team. For me, the series is level now, and India might be in a position to take charge. Massive. They would welcome a 1-1 outcome. The first Test occurred in Perth, followed by a day-night match in Adelaide, and then the third Test in Brisbane. Any visiting team would settle for a 1-1 scoreline because as they head to Melbourne and Sydney, I believe India will be strong,” he explained.
“Jasprit Bumrah has been a vital player for India in this series. If the prominent players step up, which I have a strong feeling they will, then Australia could face difficulties. They narrowly escaped, but they are not in a secure position. They are free to attack Australia on Boxing Day,” he concluded.
