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SPORTS MARCH 12, 2021 | The Indian Eye 48
Following an emphatic 3-1 tive to it for me, as an individu-
series win over England, Ravi al that is unacceptable. We as a
Shastri said changing the rule team have never played with that
of the WTC qualification in be- mindset. For us any game is im-
tween the tournament when In- portant, we are going to go for
dia was leading the table wasn’t result whenever an opportunity
something that impressed the presents itself that’s why people
boys. “It’s a great feeling to win want to watch us as a team now,”
the series. It’s satisfying to see the he had added.
youngsters perform in tough sit-
uations. The way Pant and Washi not sorry for
played... pressure was on us but
from there to get to 360 was in- missing the ton:
credible. The boys just took one
series at a time. Never thought of sundar
the Test championship. Things owling all-rounder
got changed when we were top of B Washington Sundar,
the table and when we were not
playing. The first Test in Chennai who played a pivotal
could have been different with a role in India’s emphatic in-
bit more rest,” Shastri said in the nings win in the fourth Test
against England, doesn’t re-
post-match presentation. gret missing out on what would
Earlier, ahead of the fourth have been a well-deserved
axar Patel equals maiden hundred for him.
Sundar was left stranded
dilip doshi’s record on 96 as India got dismissed
for 365 in their first innings on
ndia all-rounder Axar Pa- Rishabh Pant plays a shot during the fourth test match between India and En- the third day of the Test match
tel registered yet another gland at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Friday. (BCCI/ANI Photo) here at the Narendra Modi
Ifive-wicket haul to become Stadium. “To win my first se-
the joint highest wicket-taker ries at home is amazing and
in a debut Test series against feels great. I am not at all dis-
England here at the Narendra appointed to miss the hundred.
Modi Stadium on Saturday. The 100 will come when it’s the
Axar missed the first Test right time for me. I am happy
but took a five-wicket haul in to contribute to the team,” said
the second innings of the sec- Sundar after the completion
ond Test. The left-arm spinner of the match. The off-spinner
then spun a web and bagged played three matches in the
two five hauls in the third Test. Test series against England
With a five-for in the second in which he scored 181 runs,
innings of the fourth Test, Axar besides picking two wickets.
equalled Dilip Doshi’s record The 21-year-old, in his debut
of most wickets (27) in a de- game in Australia, had also
but Test series for India. While England squad celebrates a dismissal during the fourth test match between scored valuable 82 runs in the
Doshi had taken the 27 wickets India and England at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. (ICC/ANI Photo) series decided at The Gabba,
in six matches, Axar achieved besides scalping four wickets,
the feat in just three games. and final Test of the series against world in Test cricket we have no thus helping India win the Bor-
Axar along with Ravichan- England, India skipper Virat issues whatsoever whether it is der-Gavaskar series 2-1.
dran Ashwin spun a web as the Kohli had said the WTC is a dis- WTC or not,” Kohli had said in He further said that the
traction for them as the team is a virtual press conference.
hosts won the fourth and final already motivated enough to “I think for teams like us, it is pitch was very good to bat on
Test by an innings and 25 runs. play Test cricket or any form of just a distraction when you start and all it required was a bit of
While Ashwin picked his application from the batters.
30th five-wicket haul during the game. thinking of WTC. Eventually, it “To be honest, the pitch
the course of the England in- “To be brutally honest it is only a game of cricket. World was very good to bat on. Cred-
nings on Saturday, Axar picked (WTC) might work for teams Cup final, semi-final anything it to (James) Anderson, (Ben)
his fourth as India stormed that are not motivated enough you take it is the game of crick- Stokes for getting assistance on
to play Test cricket. Teams like et at the end of the day. And if
into the final of the World Test us who are motivated to play you are not motivated to play a this surface, they bowled real-
Championship after sealing Test cricket and want to win Test normal game of cricket and ex- ly well. The wicket is still good
the series 3-1 on the third day matches and keep the Indian tra motivated to play a game of to bat on. If you apply yourself
of the Test. you can score,” Sundar said.
cricket team at the top of the cricket which has some incen-
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