Cricket Australia on Wednesday saluted the Indian team’s “resilience, courage and skill” during its historic Test series win over the hosts and expressed gratitude to the BCCI for the “sacrifices” it made to ensure the smooth conduct of the epic contest.
A second-string Indian team, led by Ajinkya Rahane, braved all odds to defeat a full-strength Australia by three wickets at the Gabba here to win the four-Test series 2-1 and retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy on Tuesday in Brisbane.
“On behalf of everyone at Cricket Australia, we congratulate Team India for their resilience, courage, and skill demonstrated in retaining the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in a series that will be talked about for generations to come,” CA wrote in a Thank You Note to the BCCI.
The note, written by CA interim CEO Nick Hockley and Chair Earl Eddings, was addressed to “friends in Indian cricket”, the BCCI, acknowledging the role played by the Sourav Ganguly-led board in successfully completing the tour amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Australian cricket will forever be grateful to the BCCI for their friendship, trust, and commitment in helping to deliver a series that has brought joy to many millions of people around the world at a time they needed it most,” the letter read.
“The unique challenges of international touring during a global pandemic are considerable and we thank India’s players, coaches, and support staff for all they have given.
“Over the past nine weeks, the Indian and Australian men’s teams completed outstanding One-Day International and Twenty20 International series, followed by one of the greatest Border-Gavaskar Test series ever competed,” it added.
The CA officials said that the BCCI’s cooperation was crucial to making the tour a hit.
The series gave the financially struggling CA a major boost with expected revenue of 300 million Australian dollars.