After India won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy beating Australia 2-1, India head coach Ravi Shastri admitted that this was the 'toughest tour ever.'
"This is the toughest tour ever. We are playing in COVID times, there are injuries, so nothing comes closer to this," Shastri said after the win.
The side had injury woes, leading to the Brisbane Test, and Shastri said that they had to manage things with the resources available. "We were left with no choices, we had to do with the guys who were available...
"Feeling defeated is one thing but giving up is not in our vocabulary. It's the self belief that this team has. It does not come overnight," the coach said.
After the win, Shastri admitted that he got emotional with the way the boys bounced back in the series. "I am not someone who has tears in my eyes, but I had tears (today). This will be one of the best Tests ever played. This shows the stomach for a fight after being bowled out for 36. This is unreal..."
READ: Pant, Gill shine as spirited India defeats Australia in Brisbane
Chasing a big total, the idea was to play session by session. "The innings that (Shubman) Gill played really set the platform. He got the momentum going," the coach stated.
While Gill laid the foundation, it was Pant's unbeaten 89 off 138 deliveries, which guided India to a historic series win. "In his mind Pant was always chasing. You could see he was looking at the scoreboard," Shastri said.
"He is a good listener. As coach, you don't want to change anyone's natural ability but you need to strike the right balance between caution and aggression. You can't be reckless. Rishabh has learnt that," he added.
Shastri said Pant, who scored a 97 in the drawn Sydney Test, could have won that match for India, had he stayed. "He could have finished the game in Sydney had he been there for some more time. This time he made sure he was there till the end," he said.
"When he doesn't keep well, people criticise him but he can help you win matches like these."
Captain Ajinkya Rahane said: "It was tough after the Adelaide Test. We were not thinking too much about the result. The support staff did a brilliant job. We showed character on the field..."
Asked whether he has already started planning for the series against England - which gets underway next month - Rahane said: "I am thinking of enjoying this win. What we did is historical. Once we land in India, we will think about the England series."
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