"Ravi Bhai organized a team dinner, arranged for karaoke and started singing"- Ravichandran Ashwin on the aftermath of India's Adelaide 36 all-out
Team India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin recalled the then-head coach Ravi Shastri arranging a team dinner with music following their Adelaide debacle of the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. India and Australia played the opening Test of the four-match series in Adelaide.
Virat Kohli's men went toe-to-toe with the hosts and captured a valuable 53-run first innings lead. However, things went awry swiftly for India as they were bowled out for their lowest Test score of 36 in under 22 overs in the second innings.
It left the Aussies only 90 to win and they achieved the target with eight wickets to spare and took a 1-0 series lead.
In a conversation with Vimal Kumar on his YouTube channel as quoted by India Today, Ashwin recalled the night after the embarrassing first Test defeat and praised Shastri's attempt to revive the mood amongst the players.
"We were not thinking about a series win because we were just bowled out for 36. The mood in the dressing room was a bit own. Ravi Bhai organised a team dinner. He arranged for karaoke, he started singing. He sang old Hindi songs. Everybody joined in," said Ashwin.
He added:
"We were in a bubble, Virat was also getting ready to return. We were just focussing on doing well in the next Test in Melbourne. We kept small targets."
Virat Kohli left home following the first Test for personal reasons and Ajinkya Rahane took over as captain for the rest of the series.
Team India overcame all odds to clinch famous series victory
Despite Kohli's departure and a series of injuries to several key players along the way, Team India pulled off their most memorable Test series win in the 2020-21 tour down under.
The side responded to the Adelaide defeat in style by winning the second Test in Melbourne by eight wickets. The fightback continued in the third Test at Sydney, where India denied Australia a victory by finishing 334/5 on the final day to secure a draw.
With the series headed to the Gabba in Brisbane for the decider, India overcame numerous nervy moments to script an incredible three-wicket win. Chasing 328 for victory on the final day, Rahane's men produced a collective batting effort with half-centuries from Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, and Rishabh Pant to pull off a miraculous triumph.
India's 2-1 series win made it consecutive bilateral Test series wins for them in Australia.