The series may have ended with the result seeming lopsided, but it wasn’t so after the first Test, and Ravichandran Ashwin picked India’s resolve in second Test in Chennai as the standout moment in the series.
“The way we wrestled back in the second Test was admirable,” said Ashwin in the post-match press conference on Saturday after India’s innings and 25-run victory over England.
“We were on the back foot after the first Test and we also had the pressure of having to perform at home, naturally nothing less than a win is expected from us at home. We played very brave cricket and were able to claw our way out of some sticky situations, throughout the series to be honest,” he said.
“I think this victory is a direct result of how we bonded as a team in the bio-bubble,” he added.
Since Australia threw their doors open to hosting India in December last year, the team has spent months in bio-bubbles as the new-norm. Instead of focusing on the negatives - and there are a fair few to being locked up in a room and only allowed to play - Ashwin insisted that the bubble has given him a new-found appreciation for his team-mates.
“I haven’t seen this spirit in over a decade,” he said.
“I don’t think anybody really wants to leave the bubble, though, life inside a bubble isn’t easy. That’s because of the mindset of all the people in the team. Everyone is having a great time. Sure, I am looking forward to going home and being with my kids and the family, but this has been an amazing experience.”