Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri’s sojourn in Australia is getting better and better with each passing day. The tour of Australia started on a forgettable note as the Men in Blue lost the first T20I. But since then, it has been a one-way traffic to a large extent. After the washed out second T20I, India beat the hosts in the third game to level the series.
The Virat Kohli-led side then won the Test series to register a historic series win on the Australian soil. It was India’s first Test series win in Australia. The win came 71 years after India toured Australia for the first time in 1948. India won the four-match Border-Gavaskar series 2-1 after the fourth and final Test ended in a draw due to poor weather. India were well on their way of clinching the series 3-1 after posting 622 for 7 and bowling out the hosts for just 300 to enforce a follow-on. However, rain and bad light quashed their hopes. But the poor weather could not stop the world number one side from winning a historic series. India had taken an unassailable lead in the series after winning the first and third Test in Adelaide and Melbourne respectively.
It is a stunning start for both Kohli and Shastri after a forgettable 2018 where India lost series in England and South Africa. Both captain and coach had to cope criticism for India’s failure to deliver in tough conditions. And the year has now become better for the two as Sydney Cricket Ground paid tributes to Indian skipper Virat Kohli and head coach Ravi Shastri by honoring them with a lifetime membership.
Speaking about the captain-coach duo accepting the honorary membership, SCG Chairman Tony Shepherd stated that the duo have played a major role in keeping Test cricket a force.
“The SCG congratulates Team India for securing its first Test series win on Australian soil. It is wonderful to see the world’s largest cricketing nation putting its focus firmly on Test cricket – a step that will reinforce the pre-eminence of Tests in the global cricketing landscape. Virat and Ravi have been at the forefront of that and Test cricket is well served having both placing such significance on the five-day format,” he said.
Great honour and very humbling to get the honorary life membership of the @scg along with @imVkohli #TeamIndia #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/RDIDOxG655
— Ravi Shastri (@RaviShastriOfc) January 11, 2019
So far, only Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara have received such recognition from the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Meanwhile, India will be looking to continue their winning run when they take on Australia in the upcoming ODI series, starting January 12 in Sydney.