Ravi Shastri, Ajinkya Rahane Deserve All The Credit That They Are Getting, Says Sunil Gavaskar

Former Indian opening batsman Sunil Gavaskar has hailed the Indian team for reinstating the self-belief into the team after the Adelaide debacle. India has kept themselves alive in the four-match Test series against Australia by pulling off a miraculous draw in Sydney despite all the odds. Sunil Gavaskar has lauded the think-tank for the same that enabled India to perform confidently.

Ravichandran Ashwin, Hanuma Vihari, Cheteshwar Pujara, and Rishabh Pant all played instrumental roles on day five in Sydney to secure an unlikely draw. All of them batted with intent and composure to do the unthinkable. Following getting skittled for 36 in Adelaide, India also won the second Test in Melbourne to level the series.

Sunil Gavaskar reckons that the Indian team has earned the credit for the way they have picked themselves after being 36 all out. He singled out stand-in captain Ajinkya Rahane and head coach Ravi Shastri, having taken a few meetings to assess where they went wrong.

“They deserve all the credit that they are getting. After being knocked out for 36, it’s very difficult for them to pick themselves up. But the way they have fought back, it’s a lot of credit to Ravi Shastri, to Ajinkya Rahane, they would have had a few meetings to analyze where they can improve,” Gavaskar told India Today.

You can talk the talk but you have got to walk the walk: Sunil Gavaskar

The 71-year old further said that all it matters for the players to convert their words into performances, which they did in Melbourne. Sunil Gavaskar did not forget to mention bowling coach Bharat Arun and the entire support staff’s contribution. However, he believes that the captain and coach deserve the most credit.

“You can talk the talk but you have got to walk the walk. And that’s what India did in Melbourne. And I think no credit can be high for both these guys as well as the other support staff. Don’t underestimate the contribution of Bharat Arun as a bowling coach who ensured bowlers were able to bowl well. Don’t underestimate the contribution of the other support staff. All in all, it was a team performance, but all in all, the captain and coach deserve the credit,” he added.

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