We gave a lot of attention to fitness – Ravi Shastri reveals how India turned the corner in 2018-19 series in Australia

As India had been performing consistently in Test cricket over the last few years, many of the cricket boffins expected the team to win in South Africa 2017-18 and in the England tour of 2018. However, India lost against the Proteas by 2-1 in a close series and then they lost the series by 4-1 against England.

The 4-1 scoreline doesn’t tell us the complete picture as India didn’t have the rub of the green on their side and lost a couple of Test matches by a close margin. Once again the expectations were lofty for the tour of Australia in 2018-19 and this time the team was able to deliver as they registered their maiden series win Down Under as they won by 2-1.

India’s former skipper Ravi Shastri gave credit to the team’s pace bowling battery and revealed that he and then Indian captain Virat Kohli gave a lot of attention to fitness to turn the corner. In fact, before the South Africa tour, Shastri had stated he wants to make this team the best traveling outfit but he was laughed at. However, Shastri was able to prove his mettle as the head coach and had a successful stint.

Shastri said while talking to Shoaib Akhtar on his YouTube show, “I think the endeavor was to make this the best traveling team in the world. I said that back in 2017. People started laughing. But indirectly it was a challenge to the boys saying that you can do it, you know, once we had our pace-bowling attack in place. But we got hit by the bullets. We lost a close series in South Africa 2-1”.

He added, “We lost in England as well, 4-1, which could have been 3-2 in our favor with a little bit of luck. But after losing those two series I knew that we are on the way. Now, something big will happen. We were strong and fit. Gave a lot of attention to fitness, me and Virat both and it did wonders. And then we turned the corner in Australia. Australia is probably the toughest place in the world to play. They are born to play hard cricket. I knew if we can compete here, and put it across to them, it will be the ultimate.” he said.

India did come up with a fine performance on the tour of Australia and it was the win for the ages. Furthermore, India repeated their success in the 2020-21 series as they won under the leadership of Ajinkya Rahane after getting dismissed for a paltry score of 36 runs in the Adelaide Test match. Moreover, India took a lead of 2-1 in the series against England in 2021.

Ergo, India has been one of the best traveling Test teams as they have proved their mettle in almost all the conditions.

India will next face West Indies in three-match ODI series.