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Indian fast bowler Shardul Thakur has revealed the harsh treatment endured by the Indian team during their tour of Australia in 2020-21. Despite facing adversity, India clinched a historic 2-1 series win.
Shardul Thakur Opens Up About Australia Tour Ordeal
The tour began on a disastrous note with India's humiliating collapse to 36 runs in the first Test. The situation worsened with Virat Kohli's departure and Mohammed Shami's injury, leaving the team in a precarious position. With little expectation of a comeback, India defied all odds to secure a remarkable series victory, showcasing exceptional resilience.
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India's Historic Comeback Against Australia
India's tour of Australia in 2020-21 was a tale of resilience and triumph. After a devastating defeat in the first Test, the team staged a remarkable comeback, winning the second Test in Melbourne and drawing the third in Sydney. The series culminated in a historic three-wicket victory at the Gabba, marking India's first Test win at the venue in 32 years. Shardul Thakur, a key member of the victorious team, has recently opened up about the harsh treatment endured by the Indian players during the tour. The Mumbai pacer described the experience as "horrible," highlighting the challenges faced by the team. The controversy intensified when the Queensland government threatened to impose a 14-day quarantine on the Indian team, leading to a public spat. Queensland's Health Shadow Minister Ros Bates infamously stated, "If the Indians don’t want to play by the rules, don’t come."
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"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," said Shardul Thakur at a recent event.
"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 further said.
Shardul Thakur Accuses Australia of Mistreatment
Shardul Thakur continued his scathing criticism of the Australian team's behavior during the 2020-21 tour, targeting former captain Tim Paine for dishonesty. The Indian pacer also highlighted the constant challenges faced by head coach Ravi Shastri and captain Ajinkya Rahane in their efforts to secure necessary resources and support for the team.
"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.
"But 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," he added.
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