Former Indian batting coach Vikram Rathour recalled the team’s historic Test series in Australia with a second-string team on their 2020-2021 tour. In January 2021, the Indian cricket team achieved one of the most remarkable victories in its history by winning a Test series 2-1 in Australia.
Rathour recalled how a second-rate Indian team won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which was a testament to their depth, resilience and indomitable spirit against the formidable Australian cricket team.
Vikram Rathour recalls India’s epic 2020-21 Test series win in Australia with a second-string team
India’s Test campaign began with a humiliating defeat in the first Test in Adelaide, where they were bowled out for just 36 runs in the second innings, their lowest score in Test history.
To add insult to injury, several key players like Mohammad Shami, Jasprit Bumrah and Ravichandran Ashwin suffered injuries while captain Virat Kohli returned home for the birth of his first child.
Things were not easy, but stand-in captain Ajinkya Rahane put in a wonderful captaincy. Well, despite these setbacks, the Indian cricket team bounced back in spectacular fashion as stand-in captain Rahane’s century set the tone for a dominant performance, helping India level the four-match Test series by winning the second Test by eight wickets in Melbourne.
The third Test match in Sydney was a closely contested one, with Hanuma Vihari and Ravichandran Ashwin’s crucial partnership on the final day securing a draw, setting the stage for a thrilling final in Brisbane. The fourth and final Test match at the Gabba, a stadium where Australia had not lost in 32 years, witnessed a remarkable performance from the young and inexperienced Indian team.
Shubman Gill’s aggressive 91, Rishabh Pant’s unbeaten 89 and crucial contributions from Washington Sundar and Shardul Thakur led India to a historic three-wicket win on the final day, breaching the Gabba fortress. This Test series win was not just a victory; it was about courage, teamwork and unwavering belief and remains one of the most iconic series in history.
We don’t panic: Vikram Rathour on injuries to key players on Australia tour
Meanwhile, Rathour reflected on the preparation and challenges he faced during the iconic Test series against Australia. The former Indian batting coach further mentioned that the team arrived early and had a lot of practice sessions, despite the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions.
Rathour also revealed that the team’s response was to maintain a calm mindset, avoiding overthinking and unnecessary analysis after key players got injured on the tour, saying they did not panic and continued with their approach, which ultimately led to one of the best Test series wins in history.
Vikram Rathour told Sportstar: “We prepared well for that series. We came early; we had a few practice sessions. These were COVID times and we were in isolation. We had an exclusive practice area, which gave us an excellent opportunity to work and prepare well. We were in a perfect position in the first Test, and the all-out for 36 happened. It was a strange session. The message in the group was simple: there is nothing wrong with what we did. Let’s not start thinking or analysing too much. We didn’t panic. It turned out to be one of the best series ever.”
