Ravichandran Ashwin, the veteran India off-spinner, has talked at length about what was the mood in the dressing room after India got all out for 36 in the first Test match against Australia in Adelaide in 2020. With Virat Kohli set to leave after that Test and Mohammed Shami injured, it looked unlikely that India would be able to beat Australia in Australia 0-1 down and the manner in which they lost the pink-ball Test, getting bowled out for their lowest ever total in the longest format of the match.
Ashwin disclosed that the feeling inside the Indian national cricket team setup was no different. However, it was Ravi Shastri, the then India head coach who started singing to uplift the mood of the team and set up a Karaoke night.
"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 in a video uploaded on journalist Vimal Kumar's YouTube channel.
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However, as it turned out, India came back from behind to win a historic Test series with Ajinkya Rahane leading the side. It was an extraordinary performance by a side that was without its star player as well as several other players who got injured by the time one reached the last Test match of the five-match tour. The visitors, however, found a way to get back on top.
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The series culmintaed with India handing the Aussies a defeat at the Gabba in Brisbane for the first time in 32 years to take the series 2-1. India are scheduled to tour Australia for a five-match series Down Under starting in November with the series opener scheduled to take place at the Optus Stadium in Perth.