Gavaskar lauds India's extraordinary display of 'resolve, fortitude and fighting spirit'

Former Indian opener Sunil Gavaskar has showered praise on the touring Indian side for standing up to every contest and challenges thrown at them by the Australian side in the series. 

India need 324 runs with all 10 wickets intact while Australia need to run through the Indian team that has refused to give up in the series so far on the final day of the Tests at the Gabba.

Gavaskar said that irrespective of the result in the ongoing Test, one must remember that how tough it has been for the teams in the past to compete in Australia and the level of ‘extraordinary’ success this team has been able to achieve over the course of four Test matches must make every fan of the team really proud of the players.

"It doesn't matter what happens here at the Gabba... We Indians can and will be truly proud of our cricketers. I have led Indian teams on tours of Australia and know first-hand just how challenging it can be. But what we have witnessed in the series is something extraordinary," Gavaskar said during his commentary stint with the host broadcaster Channel Seven.

The fight for the Border Gavaskar Trophy has reached to the pinnacle of the competition as the four-match Test series between Australia and India has reached to the last day of the final Test with no clear signs of who will emerge as the winner.

He also urged the Australian people and commentators to recognise the exemplary level of mental toughness and skills put on display by the Indians even while struggling with the loss of so many key players over the course of series. 

He also said that the mental fortitude showed by the team India has been a fitting tribute to his Australian counterpart Allan Border who was known for his mental strength in his playing days and with whom Gavaskar shares legacy in the name of Border-Gavaskar Trophy

"...the trophy that was made to honour myself and great Allan Border, a captain who embodied everything we have seen in this series, mental toughness and skill (sic)," he said and then signed off with a stunning narrative: "I know you Australians respect, most of all, in yourselves and in opponents. I know you will always remember what these Indians have achieved here this summer,” Gavaskar added.

Gavaskar also pointed out the length of the time these Indian players have been away from their families amid a raging pandemic that asked more than just on-field performances to compete on as difficult a tour as in Australia. 

Gavaskar also pointed out that many of the injuries in the Indian camp were impactful in nature and were inflicted by the fearsome quick bowling and pitches that took stern examination session after session, but the team showed exemplary guts to fight it out in the face of severe strain and adversities.

"Resolve, fortitude and fighting spirit displayed by the team has been inspiring. Most have been away from home and in quarantine for over five months. They have been routed in the most crushing way with the world watching. They have seen friends battered and broken. They have been tested to the cricketing and mental limits every turn, every minute. Even under the most intense strain, they have never stopped fighting. And they may still somehow manage to take the trophy home.” Gavaskar opined during his commentary on during the fourth day’s play in the Gabba Test.

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