England suffered a disappointing 3-0 ODI series sweep at the hands of India on Wednesday. The side failed to challenge the Rohit Sharma-led side in any of the games and its batters looked clueless against the Indian spinners. While talking about the struggle of England batters, former India player Ravi Shastri pointed out that the players have had just one training session during the entire ODI series. Ex-England player Kevin Pietersen also slammed the players of his nation for taking ‘disrespecting Indian conditions’.

“From what I’ve heard, England have had just one net session this entire trip, if not any. If you’re not prepared to do the hard yards, you’re not going to improve,” said Shastri during commentary in third ODI.

Meanwhile, England great Pietersen said, “The 2-hour flight from Dubai across here. He (Tom Banton) was on the golf course yesterday. He wasn’t batting, and where have the issues come? The start, 1 for 60, 2 for 80. And then, what happens? None of them can play spin. And how do you improve playing spin?”

After the game, Pietersen revealed that he read an article where a journalist claimed that the England players could not have sufficient training due to injury concerns and the little gap after the T20I series that preceded the ODIs.

Notably, the India vs England T20I series concluded on February 2, while the ODI matches took place on February 6, 9 and 12.

“Just got sent an article where a leading UK journo has said that Shastri & I got it wrong last night when discussing England not training,” said Pietersen in a post on X.

“Reason – injuries and quick turnaround between games…!

“Do me a f*****g favour! Stop writing about cricket if you’re going to write such rubbish.

“Injuries are part of sport and this schedule is like every bilateral series almost ever played.

“Injuries are NOT stopping batters from batting against net bowlers and learning the art of playing spin. And that’s where they should have been to IMPROVE! Trust me on this one as it saved my career against spin!

“It seems the journos are in cahoots with what we’re trying to be brainwashed into believing! You won’t fool the fan with such!”

Just got sent an article where a leading UK journo has said that Shastri & I got it wrong last night when discussing England not training.

Reason – injuries and quick turnaround between games…!

Do me a f*****g favour! Stop writing about cricket if you’re going to write…

— Kevin Pietersen(@KP24) February 13, 2025

Both India and England now head up to the Champions Trophy that is set to kick off on February 19.

Former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri lauded Indian pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah for his performances during the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia, saying that he has made the ball talk and opened the fourth Test at Melbourne big time. Bumrah continued to break records left and right as he continued his red-hot form in the ongoing series, bringing his wicket-tally to a massive 29 scalps at an average of 13.24, with two five-wicket hauls to his name. During the second innings, Bumrah took 4/56 in 24 overs at an economy rate of 2.33. He took wickets of Sam Konstas, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh and wicketkeeper-batter Alex Carey.

Speaking as quoted by FOX Sports, Shastri said, “Anything over 275 to chase here is not easy, but it was big fight today. India bounced back and that great spell from Jasprit Bumrah today has opened up the game big time.”

Bumrah completed his 200 Test wickets in the match, becoming the fastest player to do so for the Indian team. He also became the first-ever player to have 200 Test wickets with an average of below 20, being way better than West Indies legends Joel Garner, Curtly Ambrose and Fred Trueman in bowling average.

The former Indian head coach said that Bumrah belongs to the conversation for the “greatest” along with these aforementioned legends, especially with having played 12 Tests and taken 47 wickets at an average of 17.19 at home, with two five-wicket hauls, on mostly spin-friendly conditions.

“It is a stunning stat because we all know how good the other three were (in) Marshall, Garner and Ambrose,” Shastri was quoted by FOX Sports.

“To play half his Test matches in India, almost, in those conditions in the subcontinent, and then to have a strike rate the way he has is unimaginable. No one would have given a price that, when you saw that list, that an Indian would be there right on top with 200 wickets, to have the best strike rate,” he said.

“It is special and make no mistake, he belongs there. Not for one minute (should anyone) ever doubt you know where this has come from. He belongs there. He is a great fast bowler and deserves to be with those great fast bowlers. He is literally making the ball talk. The number of times he has beaten the bat is unreal,” Shastri said.

The former head coach noted with the skillset, unique bowling action, run-up he has, the accuracy and variations in his bowling is “unbelievable”.

“I have not seen so much playing and missing on a day four pitch with the sun out as I saw today in his first spell. I was as well as he has bowled in this entire series and he just got one wicket.,” he concluded.

Bumrah broke plenty of records today. The 31-year-old also became the fastest Indian to pick up 200 Test wickets, he achieved it after bowling 8484 balls.

Overall, the 31-year-old became the fourth fastest bowler to scalp 200 Test wickets, after Waqar Younis, Dale Steyn and Kagiso Rabada.

Younis stands at the top of the chart after he picked up 200 Test wickets from just 7725 balls. Steyn took 7848 deliveries to achieve the milestone. While Rabada stands in third place after he took 8153 balls to bag 200 Test wickets.

Bumrah also overtook legendary all-rounder Kapil Dev on Sunday, taking the most international wickets for India against Australia in Australia.

Now in Australia, Bumrah has taken 75 wickets in 21 matches at an average of 19.74, with best figures of 6/33. He has three five-wicket hauls in Australia.

On the other hand, in 31 international matches in Australia, Kapil has taken 72 wickets against Australia at an average of 25.44, with best figures of 8/106, having five five-wicket hauls in Australia.

He also surpassed Indian legend Anil Kumble (141 wickets) to become the second-highest wicket-taker from Asia in South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia (SENA) conditions and is now just behind Wasim Akram of Pakistan (146 scalps).

Bumrah also went past Kumble (20 wickets at Sydney Cricket Ground in five innings) to have most wickets on an away venue by an Indian bowler, with his 23 scalps at MCG at an average of 15.26 in just three matches, with one five-wicket haul to his name.

Coming to the match, Australia won the toss and opted to bat first. Half-centuries from Konstas (60 in 65 balls, with six fours and two sixes), Usman Khawaja (57 in 121 balls, with six fours), Marnus Labuschagne (72 in 145 balls, with seven fours) and 34th Test ton from Steve Smith (140 in 197 balls, with 13 fours and three sixes) took Australia to 474/10 in their first innings.

Bumrah (4/99) and Ravindra Jadeja (3/78) were the lead pacer and spinner for the team, while Akash Deep got two wickets and Washington Sundar got one scalp.

India lost two quick wickets and was reduced to 51/2, but a century stand between Yashasvi Jaiswal (82 in 118 balls, with 11 fours and a six) and Virat Kohli (36 in 86 balls, with four boundaries) stabilised the innings. However, Jaiswal’s run-out and Virat’s outside off-stump woes made India end day two on 164/5.

Then it was a 127-run stand between Washington Sundar (50 in 162 balls, with one four) and Nitish (114 in 189 balls, with 11 fours and a six) helped India reach 369. Scott Boland (3/57), skipper Pat Cummins (3/89) and Nathan Lyon (3/96) were the top bowlers for Aussies.

In their second innings, Australia was reduced to 91/6, but Labuschagne (70 in 139 balls, with three fours) and skipper Pat Cummins (41 in 90 balls, with four boundaries) took Australia to 228/9.

File photo of Nitish Reddy.© AFP

Former head coach Ravi Shastri saw shades of iconic opener Virender Sehwag when he watched Australia Test debutant Sam Konstas take on the Indian pace attack on the opening day of the Boxing Day match at the MCG. Jasprit Bumrah, widely regarded as the best pacer across all formats, was left speechless by the young Konstas. His audacious yet brave approach, being aggressive against India’s top-tier bowlers, riled up the Indian team, especially Virat Kohli.

With a mouthwatering ramp shot to score a four, the immense talent possessed by the 19-year-old opener was evident.

Shastri witnessed Konstas defy the norms of cricket with his swagger. He felt the Indian team had run out of ideas when the young Australian started the run-scoring spree in front of a sell-out crowd.

“I don’t think anyone has treated Bumrah like that in any format of the game, let alone red-ball cricket. For him to go out there with that swagger and attempt some outrageous shots–it was something else. He tore that MCC coaching manual to shreds. At one point, it felt like India had run out of ideas. They actually didn’t know what hit them,” Shastri said on Star Sports.

“Initially, he missed the first two shots, and there was a smile on the faces of the Indian players. They thought, ‘If he takes chances, we’ll get him quickly.’ But as soon as this started happening, all the smiles disappeared. The ideas disappeared,” he added.

It was hard to believe, but it was indeed Konstas’ debut Test for Australia. Watching Konstas dictate the terms of play, Shastri was reminded of Sehwag when the former opener first burst onto the scene.

“I’d say he’ll have his odd failures with the way he plays and the chances he takes. It reminds me a lot of Virender Sehwag when he first burst onto the scene. He’ll entertain when he gets going, and he’s born to entertain. If he plays for any length of time for Australia, he’ll do exactly that,” he said.

Konstas spearheaded the attack for Australia and pummeled the Indian pace unit throughout the MCG. It took Ravindra Jadeja’s left-arm spin to end the carnage inflicted by Konstas at 60 off 65 balls.

Refuting the criticism from some sections, former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri said that the moment when Team India avoided the follow-on during the drawn third Test match at Brisbane, was worth “celebration” and that it will lift the visitors as they gear up for the crucial fourth Test of the series, a Boxing Day affair, starting from December 26 onwards at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Despite being behind staring at a huge loss, India’s resilience on the final day of the third Test against Australia in Brisbane proved to be a defining moment in the ongoing series as it provided the team with a psychological boost ahead of the Boxing Day Test at the MCG, according to former coach Ravi Shastri.

Moment hai bhai, moment hai ft. #ViratKohli! #AUSvINDOnStar 3rd Test, Day 5 | 18th DEC, WED, 5:15 AM! #ToughestRivalry #BorderGavaskarTrophy pic.twitter.com/3s0EOlDacC

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) December 17, 2024

After conceding 445/10 in the first innings thanks to centuries from Steve Smith and Travis Head, India was in trouble at 51/4, however, fighting fifties from KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja and a fine 47-stand for the last wicket between Akash Deep and Jasprit Bumrah pushed India to 260/10, preventing a follow on. Australia declared at 89/7 in their second innings, setting India 275 runs to win in two sessions. However, rain meant that the match ended in a draw.

Shastri reflected on the importance of the Indian team avoiding the follow-on at the Gabba when speaking with host Sanjana Ganesan on the most recent episode of The ICC Review.

“You should celebrate,” Shastri said as quoted by ICC.

“It required a lot of character from the last pair with 35-36 runs needed. That celebration showed, they knew the importance of that effort within the dressing room in the context of the series,” he added.

The effort from Bumrah and Akash Deep was not just about saving the follow-on but setting the tone for the next phase of the game.

As Shastri put it, “It is one thing following on, it is one thing then again being two-three down as opposed to, you going ahead and rattling the Australian top-order. It is fully justified.”

Shastri was quick to compare this performance to similar moments in India’s recent history, particularly recalling the remarkable 89-run partnership between Bumrah and Mohammed Shami at Lord’s during the 2021 series against England.

“It reminded me of the celebration, when in COVID times, when Jasprit and Mohammed Shami were involved in a partnership at Lord’s, which turned the game on its head,” Shastri said.

“England were odds on favourites on the final day to win the Test. And that partnership, I think of about 80 or 90, suddenly turned the game on its head and by the end of the day, India had won the Test match.”

For Shastri, India’s recent successes in Test cricket have often been defined by the stubbornness and resilience of the tail-enders.

Whether it is Bumrah and Shami’s resilience, or the steadfast batting of Ravichandran Ashwin and Hanuma Vihari in Sydney, the ability of the lower order to fight it out has been handy for India in recent times,” he said.

“When the tail-enders are stubborn, they fight it out there. It makes a massive difference. It did it on the last tour. When Ashwin and Hanuma Vihari batted the whole of the last session to save the game, going into the Gabba and then winning the series,” Shastri added.

Such performances lift the entire team and provide a psychological advantage in high-stakes series. Shastri believes that the fight shown in this Test could prove crucial for India as the series moves forward.

“It will lift the Indian team. And for me, the series is on a level peg now and India might just be calling the shots,” he said.

With the series tied at 1-1 ahead of the Boxing Day Test, Shastri emphasised the significance of this moment in the context of the series, particularly with India’s challenging road ahead.

“Massive. They would give anything for a 1-1 result,” Shastri said, reflecting on the early stages of the series.

“The first Test is in Perth, the second Test is a day-nighter in Adelaide, and then the third Test in Brisbane. Any overseas team will…settle for a 1-1 score because come Melbourne, come Sydney, I think India will be powerful,” he added.

India’s confidence heading into Melbourne is palpable. Despite being pushed to the brink in the third Test, Shastri believes that India now finds themselves in a strong position.

“They have been kept in this series single-handedly by Jasprit Bumrah,” Shastri said.

“If the big boys wake up, and step up to the plate which I just get the gut feeling they will, then Australia has a problem on their hands. Yeah, they got out of jail but they are not on bail. They are free birds in Melbourne. They can do what they want and come and attack Australia on Boxing Day,” he concluded.

File photo of Virat Kohli.© BCCI

File image of Ravi Shastri.© BCCI