Team India showed no remorse to England, as it tamed the visitor 3-1 to retain the Anthony de Mello Trophy. The host won the final Test by an innings and 25 runs on Day 3 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Saturday.
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The match saw the Indian spinners nail it with their deadly turns. The batsmen, too, did their part, especially wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant (105) and all-rounder Washington Sundar (96*).
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Meanwhile, head coach Ravi Shastri was all-praised for the duo. He also hailed the overall team efforts, besides speaking on some topics, including the Ahmedabad track and bio-bubble impact.
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"He (Pant) has worked like hell in the last three or four months and the results are showing. Yesterday's innings is the best counter-attacking innings I have seen in India by an Indian, especially at number six when the ball was turning. We were hard on him. Nothing comes easy and he was told in no uncertain terms that he has got to respect the game a little more. He has got to lose some weight and work hard on his keeping. We know the talent he has. He is a genuine match-winner and he has responded," told Shastri after the game, reports PTI.
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"I think Washy has far more natural ability than I had. He has the ability and he belongs at this level, and he can go a long way. If he could focus on his bowling, India could have a very good number six for overseas conditions. Someone who can get you those 50s, 60s and 70s and then bowl for you 20 overs and can pick up 2-3 wickets. That was my role overseas and I think he can do that role easily," reckoned Shastri.
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The Ahmedabad track was under a lot of criticism following the third day-night Test, as the match saw getting over within just a couple of days. However, things changed in the following Test, as Shastri believes that it was entertaining despite the tracks being spin-friendly."Why should I hold back? I attribute it to the groundsman. I think Ashish Bhowmick is an outstanding groundsman and he knows his job. He has learnt it the hard way. He worked with Daljit Singh, who was a master curator. Who will complain against a track like this? It is fantastic entertainment for both teams and the game and the result 3-1 doesn't really suggest how close the series was," Shastri asserted.
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Shastri also explained the challenges the players face in the existing bio-bubble, with freedom being limited and loneliness creeping in. However, he believes that the players have become accustomed to it and it is not a big issue anymore."There is no choice. There are restricted team areas, so you can't go out, meet anyone and the same exists now. I knew very clearly that it'd take time. Now, how much time do I be patient, that was my goal.....and it didn't take long, because we were a week10 days, two weeks quarantined, another week, two losses, three weeks, by the time the boys trained a bit and I knew we needed one result our way for things to turn around, because of the work we had done last four-five years as an Indian cricket team," concluded Shastri.
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