Test series win in Australia bigger than 1983 World Cup triumph: Ravi Shastri

India won the four-match Test series against Australia 2-1 after no play was possible on the final day of the last match at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). The visitors had a golden chance of winning at the SCG, but the rain made sure that the Aussies didn’t have to encounter another defeat. India also won their first overseas Test series on Australian soil in the 71-year-old history.

The Indian bowlers were superlative and their batsmen, especially the likes of Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli, were outstanding. In the meantime, Ravi Shastri, the Indian head coach, was of opinion that the triumph was bigger than even the 1983 World Cup victory that came under the leadership of the legendary Kapil Dev. Shastri also called Test cricket as the ‘truest format’ of the game.

“I will tell you how satisfying this is for me. World Cup 1983, World Championship 1985…this is as big or even bigger because this is in the truest format of the game, that is Test cricket,” Shastri was quoted as saying in the post-match press conference.

A dominant run

India started the series on an impressive note with a thumping victory at the Adelaide Oval by 31 runs. Pujara was the Player of the Match for his incredible knocks. Nevertheless, Australia didn’t drop the gun by any stretch of the imagination. Tim Paine and Co made a strong comeback in the second Test at the new Perth Stadium and drew level in the series with a 147-run victory.

India, with their backs to the wall, came back with a 137-win in the third and penultimate contest of the series by 136 runs. It also helped them take an unassailable 2-1 lead in the series. Jasprit Bumrah bagged the Player of the Match. India were also head and shoulders above their opponents until the rain came to the home team’s rescue in the last two days.

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