India cricketer Shardul Thakur has revealed many details about India’s victorious tour to Australia in 2020-21, stating that the team had not received good facilities from Cricket Australia. Terming the treatment towards them as “horrible”, Thakur stated that then-India captain Ajinkya Rahane and coach Ravi Shastri were regularly involved in arguments with Cricket Australia, as the team did not receive adequate facilities. Thakur revealed that several negative things were spoken about India, whilst going as far as calling then-Australia Test captain Tim Paine a liar.

In a public appearance, Shardul Thakur revealed his true feelings about the tour when asked what India’s famous win at The Gabba in Brisbane meant to him. India had won the four-match Test series 2-1.

“The way they treated us was very horrible,” said Thakur. “For four or five days, there would be no housekeeping service in the hotel. If you wanted to change the bedsheets, you would have to walk up five floors when you’re tired,” he continued.

Thakur revealed that the Governor of Queensland had said that Australia were not happy hosting India. Thakur then proceeded to rubbish an interview given by Tim Paine.

“I heard some interview from Tim Paine. That man was absolutely lying, he was just saving himself by making up things in the media,” said Thakur. “But I know the truth – Virat (Kohli) had left – and Ajinkya Rahane and Ravi Shastri were regularly fighting with Cricket Australia to give us what we wanted,” he added.

Shardul Thakur talking about the previous Australian tour. pic.twitter.com/VbosPREELU

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Thakur said that the reaction of the Indian players after winning the match was different to what it would usually be. India had won the tour despite Virat Kohli missing the last three Tests and several injury concerns. In the last Test in Brisbane, India had chased down a mammoth target of 329.

“For the first time ever, we did not even look at the Australians after winning. We wanted to tell them ‘Go and sit back in your dressing rooms’,” Thakur said.

Former Australian cricket team captain Tim Paine expressed his concern for Team India ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024 and even served them a warning concerning star batter Virat Kohli. India are one of the firm favourites ahead of the competition but Paine believes that the campaign will depend heavily on how Kohli ends up performing.  Paine, in conversation with fellow countrymen Aaron Finch and Michael Clarke on the ‘Around the Wicket’ podcast, compared Kohli to Australia all-rounder Glenn Maxwell and said that if the India star fails to perform, Rohit and Co will not be able to win the title.

“I can’t see India winning the World Cup unless Virat Kohli has a really strong World Cup – bit similar to Glenn Maxwell’s form. I know he hasn’t been red-hot as of late but I can’t see Australia winning the World Cup unless Maxwell has a blinder,” Paine said on the podcast.

Recently, Kohli opened up about his retirement plans.

“I think as a sportsman, we do have an end-date to our careers. So I am just working backwards. I don’t want to finish my career thinking ‘oh, what if I have done this on that particular day’ because I can’t keep going on and on forever. So it’s just about not leaving any undone business behind and not have any regrets later, which I am sure I won’t,” said Kohli at RCB’s Royal Gala Dinner.

“Once I am done, I will be gone, you won’t see me for a while (smiles). So I want to give it everything I have till the time I play, and that’s the only thing that keeps me going,” he added.

Kohli is currently the run-scorer in the ongoing IPL 2024 and will be looking to guide Royal Challengers Bengaluru to the playoff with a win over five-time champions Chennai Super Kings.