India’s resilience on the final day of the third Test against Australia in Brisbane also gave the team a psychological boost ahead of the high-pressure Boxing Day Test at the MCG. Reflecting on India’s remarkable efforts to avoid the sequel, the former coach Ravi Shastri spoke in detail about Indian Tailender’s fight in the first innings of the third Test.

With 36 runs needed to avoid tracking, Jasprit Bumrah and Akash Deep’s stubborn resistance was a crucial turning point. When the duo finally helped India get past the follow-up milestone, there were loud celebrations in the dressing room, and the former India coach was all for it.

“You should celebrate,” Shastri said. “It took a lot of character from the final pair with 35-36 points needed. This celebration showed they knew the importance of this effort in the locker room in the context of the series.”

The importance of this moment, Shastri explained, was not just to salvage the sequel, but to set the tone for the next phase of the game.

“It’s one thing to follow, it’s one thing to be 2-3 down instead of going ahead and upsetting Australia’s top spot. It’s fully justified,” Shastri noted, emphasizing how critical such times can be for Australia. team dynamics.

Shastri in the Boxing Day Test

Looking ahead to the Boxing Day Test at the MCG, Shastri believes India’s ability to hold on in Brisbane after being pushed to the brink has given them the confidence they need to approach the crucial next phase of the series .

“This will lift the Indian team. And for me, the series is now on a level playing field and India could well take the lead,” he said.

Reflecting on the larger context of the series, Shastri highlighted how this moment could prove vital in the long run.

“Massive. They would give anything for a 1-1 result,” he said. “The first Test is in Perth, the second Test is day and night in Adelaide, then the third Test is in Brisbane. Any foreign team will settle for, you know, 1-1 because come Melbourne, come Sydney, I think India will be strong.