Adelaide. When India were bowled out for 36 in Adelaide during the 202021 BorderGavaskar Trophy, then head coach Ravi Shastri had a message for his team, laying the foundation for one of the greatest comebacks in cricket history. “You can't do anything worse than this,” he told his players in the dressing room.
The Test match played with the pink ball in Adelaide seemed to be a draw, but India's second innings ended in dramatic fashion. Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood took advantage of excellent bowling conditions to bowl out the visitors for just 36 – their lowest ever Test score.
Shastri recalled that day, “I had never seen so much playing in my life. If you had missed while playing, you would have been out. No plays and misses. It was extraordinary.” The result humiliated India, with pundits and fans writing off their chances for the remainder of the series.
After the collapse, Shastri chose not to panic. Instead, he emphasized restraint. The message to the team was simple: Mistakes happen, but how you respond defines you.
“There was no need for kneejerk reactions,” Shastri explained. “We knew that luck was not on our side in that session. The important thing was to trust our processes and bounce back.”
India's response came in the very next Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. After captain Virat Kohli returned home on paternity leave, Ajinkya Rahane performed brilliantly. Thanks to Rahane's brilliant century, India registered a spectacular victory, which leveled the series and proved the team's determination.
The bowlers, led by Jasprit Bumrah and debutant Mohammed Siraj, produced a stellar performance, indicating India's determination to make a comeback.
India's determination and determination were demonstrated in the third Test in Sydney. India got hope after Rishabh Pant's counterinnings of 97 runs, the pair of Hanuma Vihari and Ravichandran Ashwin batted brilliantly despite the pain and achieved a memorable draw.
With the team struggling with injuries, India showed that spirit and character can overcome any difficulty.
The final Test at the Gabba, Australia's stronghold for 32 years, was the ultimate test of India's depth and determination. Despite missing several firstchoice players, India won. 328 runs on the last day, thanks to Rishabh Pant's fearless 89* innings. The allround talent of Washington Sundar and Shardul Thakur, along with Siraj's fivewicket haul, highlights the strength of India's bench.
For Shastri, the transition from Adelaide to Brisbane was a testament to the team's belief and calm under pressure. He said, “Sometimes, the worst moments bring out the best in you. Adelaide taught us to focus on what we can control and not let one bad day define us.” As India prepare for another pinkball Test in Adelaide, the lessons of 36 all out remain relevant. The fall is no longer a horrifying memory, but a reminder of the power of resilience and restraint. Shastri concluded, “This team knows how to respond to challenges. Adelaide was a chapter of learning, and the series after that was a story of redemption.”
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Image Credit: KhasKhabar.