Shardul Thakur reveals surprising details about Australian mistreatment in the 2020-21 series. India was on a tour to Australia for a bilateral series. After captain Virat Kohli left midway and Mohammed Shami got injured, team India faced several challenges. Adding up to that was ACB’s mistreatment.
The tour started disastrously with India’s embarrassing collapse to 36 runs in the first Test. Things got worse when Virat Kohli left and Mohammed Shami got injured, putting the team in a tough spot. Despite low expectations of a comeback, India defied the odds and achieved a remarkable series victory, demonstrating exceptional resilience.
“Ravi Shastri and Ajinkya Rahane fought everyday” Shardul Thakur says
Shardul Thakur shared insights into India’s dismal tour of Australia in 2020-2021. The Mumbai pacer described the experience as “horrible,” emphasizing the numerous challenges the team encountered.
Shardul Thakur intensified his criticism of the Australian team’s conduct during the 2020-21 tour, accusing former captain Tim Paine of dishonesty. The Indian pacer also pointed out the persistent challenges faced by head coach Ravi Shastri and captain Ajinkya Rahane in their attempts to secure essential resources and support for the team.
“I know the truth of it. Our coach Ravi Shastri, Virat had left, and Ajinkya was leading. They both were in a regular fight with the cricketing board of Australia to get the things that we wanted,” said Shardul Thakur at a recent event.
“The way they treated us was very horrible. Four or five days, there won’t be any housekeeping services in the hotel. You want to change your bedsheets, you would have to walk up the stairs for four or five floors, get the bedsheets,” Shardul said.
“When you’re tired, come, change it, do your own things. Going from Sydney to Brisbane, we also heard the governor, the lady governor of Queensland saying that if Indians don’t want to come here, well, don’t come. We don’t want to host them or we’re not happy hosting them,” he added.
“That man was lying” Shardul Thakur bashes Tim Payne
The controversy escalated when the Queensland government threatened to impose a 14-day quarantine on the men in blue. This led to a public dispute. Ros Bates, Queensland’s Health Shadow Minister at the time was quoted saying “If the Indians don’t want to play by the rules, don’t come”.
“There were a lot of negative things that were being said about us to put us under pressure. I heard some interviews from Tim Paine. That man was absolutely lying because he was just saving himself by making up things in the media and covering up that we didn’t put any pressure on the Indian team and we gave them whatever they wanted,” said Shardul Thakur.
What followed was a historic win from team India. The resilient men in blue won the series despite losing the first match. After all the mistreatment and struggles, team India showed what they’re made of.
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