Former India cricketer and head coach Ravi Shastri recently reflected on India’s historic Test series wins in Australia during the 2018/19 and 2020/21 tours, comparing them to the monumental feat of beating the West Indies in the 1980s, when they were at their peak. These victories hold immense significance, as before 2018/19, India had never triumphed in a Test series on Australian soil.
Under Shastri’s guidance, India defied the odds and delivered exceptional performances across both series, earning widespread acclaim. Ravi Shastri emphasized the magnitude of these achievements, suggesting that while World Cups are often the benchmark for success, India’s consecutive series wins in Australia captured the imagination of cricket fans worldwide.
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“People talk about World Cups, but if you go and ask people who follow the game all around the world, they will always think of those [2018-19 and 2020-21] series in Australia. How many teams have gone to Australia and beaten them [in a series]? It’s just like teams going to the West Indies and beating them in the 1980s. I don’t think any team did that,” Ravi Shastri told Mid Day.
He further highlighted that winning in Australia is one of the toughest challenges in cricket, requiring extraordinary effort and resilience. Shastri also ranked these victories higher than the personal accolades he achieved during his playing career, including being part of India’s 1983 World Cup-winning squad.
“It [Border-Gavaskar Trophy] might not be the World Cup trophy, but it’s the biggest in my career. I have been part of a World Cup-winning team [1983], a World Championship of Cricket-winning side [1985]. I have called World Cup games, but those two wins in Australia are 24-carat,” Ravi Shastri remarked.
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As India prepares for the upcoming edition of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, set to begin in Perth on November 22, the legacy of these past triumphs continues to inspire the team and fans alike.
