India’s head coach Ravi Shastri has shed some light on the days when he made his debut in international cricket. He took a trip down the memory lane during a conversation with Cheteshwar Pujara on the eve of the first Test against New Zealand in Wellington.
Notably, Shastri made his debut at Basin Reserve, now the venue for the first New Zealand-India Test, exactly 39 years ago.
In this interview, Shastri talks about making his debut the morning after landing in New Zealand, and returning with a six-wicket haul in his maiden Test in conditions that he was not used to.
Incidentally, Shastri was flown to New Zealand on SOS basis after Dilip Doshi picked injury during Australia tour.
Ravi Shastri Throws Light On His International Debut
“I would have never believed I would come to the same ground, the same venue, playing against the same opposition. I went into the same dressing room, nothing has changed. I made my debut here 39 years ago. I wouldn’t have believed it to the day, 21st of February, I would be back after 39 years,” said Shastri on the eve of the opening Test in Wellington.
EXCLUSIVE: Ravi Shastri Takes Us Down Memory Lane @cheteshwar1 chats with Head Coach @RaviShastriOfc on his Test career journey which started in Wellington😎 – by @RajalArora
Full video here 📽️👉 https://t.co/BDaz7vvB7s
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 20, 2020
Ravi Shastri cherishes Wellington return:
Shastri added that he has had an incredible journey so far with the Indian team and he would have never imagined a return to the venue where he made his international debut.
“It’s been a great journey. To come back after 39 years, you would have never imagined. That too in India colours in an Indian dressing room but I will never forget that because I reached New Zealand 9:30 pm at night (on the eve of the Test),” the Indian head coach added.
Shastri made his Test debut on 21st February 1981 for Team India. He has had a total of 151 Test caps for India in his career.
A prolific all-rounder of his time, Shastri was one of team India’s key players. He scored more than 3000 runs in Test for the Men in Blue and clinched a total of 151 wickets for them.
