Ravi Shastri urged the Indian players to step up as the series moves to Melbourne with scoreline level at 1-1.India’s resilience on the final day of the third Test against Australia in Brisbane has also given the team a psychological boost ahead of the high-pressure Boxing Day Test at the MCG. Reflecting on India’s remarkable effort to avoid the follow-on, former coach Ravi Shastri spoke in detail about Indian tailender’s fight in the first innings of the third Test.
Looking ahead to the Boxing Day Test at the MCG, Ravi Shastri believes that India’s ability to hold their own in Brisbane after being pushed to the brink has given them the confidence they need heading into the next crucial phase of the series.
Team India miraculously drew the game at Brisbane to go to Melbourne 1-1
According to former Team India head coach Ravi Shastri, India’s resilience on the final day of the third Test against Australia in Brisbane has been a defining moment in the ongoing series, providing the team with a psychological boost ahead of the Boxing Day Test at the MCG.
Shastri highlighted the importance of India avoiding the follow-on at the Gabba, with the last pair of Jasprit Bumrah and Akash Deep setting the tone for the next phase of the game.
India’s confidence heading into Melbourne is palpable. Despite being pushed to the brink in the third Test, Ravi Shastri believes that India now find themselves in a strong position.
Former India coach Ravi Shastri reacts to visitors going into MCG Test of BGT 2024-25 with 1-1 scoreline
Former India head coach Ravi Shastri reckons that the visitors will go into the fourth Test of BGT 2024-25 in Melbourne with renewed confidence after managing a draw in The Gabba Test. Admitting that Jasprit Bumrah has single-handedly kept India in the series, Ravi Shastri asserted that any visiting side would be happy with a 1-1 scoreline in Australia after three Tests.
India won the first Test of BGT 2024-25 by 295 runs in Perth. Australia, however, hit back with a 10-wicket victory in the pink-ball Test in Adelaide. The Aussies dominated the Brisbane Test, but the rain-hit encounter ended in a draw.
Speaking on The ICC Review show, Ravi Shastri emphasized the significance of India heading into the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne with the series level at 1-1.
“Massive. They would give anything for a 1-1 result. The first Test is in Perth, second Test is a day-nighter in Adelaide, and then the third Test in Brisbane. Any overseas team will, you know, settle for a 1-1 score because come Melbourne, come Sydney, I think India will be powerful.” he opined.
Shastri added that if some of the other big names in the team find form and support Bumrah, India can put pressure on Australia in the fourth Test. He said:
“They’ve been kept in this series single-handedly by Jasprit Bumrah. If the big boys wake up, and step up to the plate which I just get the gut feeling they will, then Australia has a problem on their hands.
“Yeah, they got out of jail but they are not on bail. They are free birds in Melbourne. They can do what they want and come and attack Australia on Boxing Day,” the 62-year-old concluded.
Australia have called up 19-year-old Sam Konstas for the last two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India. Konstas comes in as a replacement for Nathan McSweeney, who struggled as opener in the first three Tests.
What happened when Team India faced Australia at the MCG in 2020-21
India recovered from the ignominy of 36 all-out in Adelaide to win the Boxing Day Test of the 2020-21 series by eight wickets. Captaining the side, Ajinkya Rahane led from the front, scoring 112 & 27*.
Among the bowlers, Bumrah picked up six wickets, while Mohammed Siraj claimed five. Also, all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja contributed a crucial half-century in the first innings and picked up three scalps.
This performance could be the booster for Rohit Sharma and Co. as they prepare themselves to face Australia in yet another Boxing Day encounter on 26 December 2024 heading towards it with series 1-1 .