Former Indian batsman Aakash Chopra has hailed India’s fighting spirit in the SCG Test match after the unwanted episode of racial abuse on Indian players on day three and four which became the talking point in the Test match. India started day 5 on 98 for 4 still needing 309 runs. They made a very good cade of the team winning the Test match courtesy a counter-attacking knock from Rishabh Pant.
Pant scored 97 from 118 balls and added a 148-run stand before getting out. Through his knock, he took India to a position from where they can still win the Test match with a session still to go on the final day. Meanwhile, Hailing Pant’s knock. Aakash Chopra has also lauded the courage and the might of the Indian team.
Also Read: VVS Laxman Showers Praise On Rishabh Pant After His Breathtaking Knock In Sydney
“You throw stones at them, they’ll turn them into milestones. This is how I’m feeling about this team right now. Whatever could’ve gone wrong has gone wrong….but they haven’t stopped fighting. You can defeat this team but not its spirit. Incredibly proud. Jai Hind #AusvInd” tweeted Chopra.
Aakash Chopra Salutes India’s Fightback
You throw stones at them, they’ll turn them into milestones.
This is how I’m feeling about this team right now. Whatever could’ve gone wrong has gone wrong….but they haven’t stopped fighting. You can defeat this team but not its spirit. Incredibly proud. Jai Hind 🇮🇳 #AusvInd— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) January 11, 2021
Meanwhile, the third and the fourth day was marred by racial abuse against Indian players that made the headlines. Reactions poured in from various quarters both from former Indian and Australian players that it needs to be stopped Staunch words were used to explain the situation as well.
As per reports in PTI, a BCCI official has said that Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj was called Brown Dog and Black Monkey by a group of Australian spectators who passed racist comments on him and Jasprit Bumrah after the end of the day’s play on day 3. The BCCI on their part lodged an official complaint regarding the incident upon which their Australian counterparts have even apologised to their great friends the BCCI and its players.
Mohammed Siraj was hurled abuses just before the tea break as the game was halted for 10 to 12 minutes. Siraj complained of racial attack from a section of the crowd, leading to the expulsion of some spectators and an unreserved apology from the host board.
Sean Carroll, Cricket Australia’s Head of Integrity and Security, said anyone who sought to vilify and/or harass had no place in Australian cricket. Cricket Australia has also formally apologised to their counterparts and ‘great friends’ the BCCI over the incident.
“Cricket Australia condemns in the strongest terms possible all discriminatory behaviour. If you engage in racist abuse, you are not welcome in Australian cricket” Carroll said.
Also Read: Cricket Australia Releases Official Statement Against Racial Abuse of India Players
