Ajinkya Rahane gets a heroic welcome as he returns home after historic win vs Australia

Returning back home after registering a historic Test series win in Australia, Team India's stand-in skipper Ajinkya Rahane was welcomed back with a heroic reception on Thursday morning. Rahane, who led battered Indian team after Adelaide rout and in absence of Virat Kohli, was welcomed by a massive crowd at his residence in Mumbai along tunes of dhols and roars of 'Ajinkya is winner'. Indian batsman was also showered with flowers and a huge poster of an im from his century at MCG. 

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Rahane registered a historic series win Australia as he led a bunch of inexperienced players to breach Australian fortress - Gabba - as Men in Blue retained Border Gavaskar Trophy. India's win in fourth and final Test broke Australia's 32-year-old record of remaining unbeaten at Gabba. Apart from Rahane, remaining Indian players also landed back home on Thursday morning after a lengthy tour of Australia. 

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'Toughest Tour Ever'

Reflecting upon historic win at Gabba and retaining Border Gavaskar Trophy, Team India Head Coach Ravi Shastri has remarked that this has been 'toughest tour' for Men in Blue ever. Citing bio-bubble restrictions, COVID-19 fear and multiple injuries faced, Shastri stated that re is or tour that even comes closer to this one Down Under. While Head Coach lauded youngsters, stand-in skipper Ajinkya Rahane for leading injury-hit team, he also had a special mention for Virat Kohli for imparting his strong character to Men in Blue. 

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Speaking at post-match press conferences, Shastri looked back at team marred with injuries and spoke of how Rahane led team with a comparatively inexperienced bowling attack. 

Meanwhile, stand-in skipper Ajinkya Rahane echoed Shastri's thought and also revealed that he too was emotional after win. "I got emotional, I am t someone who has tears in my ears but I had. Because this is unreal. What se guys have pulled off will go down in history as one of greatest Test series ever played," Shastri said as he shared with Rahane. 

Ackwledging gutsy comeback after humiliating loss in first Test at Adelaide, Rahane said, "It means a lot to us. I don't kw how to describe this, but our boys showed a lot of character and determination after Adelaide Test."

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