Not 1983 & 2011 WC! Ravi Shastri reveals "icing on the cake" moment after getting lifetime achievement award

Former Indian cricket team head coach Ravi Shastri was honored with the Colonel C.K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award at the Naman Awards 2024. The BCCI’s annual award event returned after four years and was held in Hyderabad. Shastri has been brilliant in every sector, whether it has been in the commentary box, as a player, or being the head coach of Indian cricket.

The Indian cricket team witnessed immense success when Ravi Shastri was the head coach. One of those was the 2-1 Test series win against Australia in Australia. India were blown away for 36 runs in the first Test in Adelaide and also lost many of their main players throughout the series.

However, India showcased a brilliant attitude and courage in the last three Tests of the series and were able to win 2 matches and the series. However, the most memorable performance came in the last Test match at The Gabba in Brisbane.

Ravi Shastri’s ‘icing on the cake’ moment of his career

Australia had never lost a Test match in Brisbane in the last 32 years. Many key Indian players such as R Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, and Mohammed Shami were not present in the match. India had to add up net bowlers in their squad to pick players for the team.

However, India wrote history at The Gabba and broke the 32-year-old ego of the mighty Aussies. While Rishabh Pant played a majestic knock to help India win the match, it was Ravi Shastri’s words that filled the Indian team with courage and attitude and gave them the power to defeat India.

Ravi Shastri went emotional after receiving the lifetime achievement award and called the Gabba win like an ‘icing on the cake’ of his career. Shastri also remembered the moments of the 1983 World Cup final and the 1985 final against Pakistan as the main highlight of his cricketing career. During commentary, Shastri’s main highlight was during the 2007 T20 World Cup final and the 2011 ODI World Cup final.

Ravi Shastri said, “It is a special evening for me. I think picking one would be difficult. But I will just go very quickly. You showed one that the 1985 final vs Pakistan was special in Melbourne. 1983 when India when the World Cup. But in commentary, 2007 when they won the T20 World Cup and 2011 when MS hit that ball for six. Two back to back wins in Australia. But the icing on the cake was the last day at the Gabba when Rishabh Pant took us past the finishing line.”

𝘿𝙊 𝙉𝙊𝙏 𝙈𝙄𝙎𝙎!

Col. C.K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award winner @RaviShastriOfc speaks about his "icing on the cake" moment 😃👌#NamanAwards pic.twitter.com/H1Ztd7SzkN

— BCCI (@BCCI) January 23, 2024

Ravi Shastri has been one of the most exceptional cricketers that the Indian cricket team has ever produced. Shastri transformed the Indian bowling attack and wrote the script of India’s many famous wins overseas.

However, Ravi Shastri also had to face some criticism as he was not able to win an ICC title during his tenure, though, he made India a ‘superpower of cricket’ during his coaching career. India are all set to play against England in the five-match Test series, which is set to be played from January 25.