Aus vs Ind 2021: The resolve, fortitude and spirit displayed by India has been inspiring – Sunil Gavaskar

India legend Sunil Gavaskar has lauded the Indian team for their fighting spirit on the ongoing tour of Australia.

The Little Master feels the result of the Gabba Test match won’t matter as the Indian players have won hearts all over the world. The visitors have impressed with their fighting attitude on this tour and they have not thrown in the towel in the ongoing series.

In fact, not many cricket pundits had given a chance to the Indian team after they were skittled out for a paltry score of 36 at Adelaide. However, India bounced back in the second Test match as they won by eight wickets to level the series 1-1.

Ajinkya Rahane scored a fine century at the MCG whereas the rest of the players like Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Shubman Gill and Jasprit Bumrah also contributed to the win.

On the other hand, Australia dominated the Sydney Test match on the first four days but India came with a rearguard display on the final day to save the match. Cheteshwar Pujara, Rishabh Pant, Hanuma Vihari and Ravichandran Ashwin were the team’s heroes on the final day.

Subsequently, India once again looked in trouble as they lost six wickets for 186 runs in the first innings of the ongoing Gabba Test. However, Shardul Thakur and Washington Sundar added 123 runs for the seventh wicket to get their team back into the contest. Ergo, India has always fought back whenever they have been put under the cosh by the Australian team.

“It doesn’t matter what happens here at the Gabba over these final two days. We Indians can and will be truly proud of our cricketers. I have led Indian teams on tours of Australia and no first hand, just how challenging it can be. But what we have witnessed in this series is something extraordinary,” Sunil Gavaskar told 7Cricket.

“The tour has tested India not just physically but mentally as well. They have been living in a bio-bubble since their arrival from the UAE in November last year after spending nearly 3 months in a bio-secure environment at the IPL 2020.

“The resolve, fortitude and spirit displayed by these players has been inspiring. Most have been away from home and in the horrid team for over five months. They have been routed in the most crushing way and with the world watching,” Gavaskar added.

India have done well on this tour and they deserve all the credit for giving their all in the arduous Australian conditions against all the odds. The visitors can be proud of their performance in this Test series and the coaching staff also deserves a lot of credit for getting the best out of the team.