India are gearing up for the five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia later this year, which is part of the ongoing World Test Championship cycle. The last series in Australia holds a special place in the hearts of Indian fans; despite all the odds, India pulled off a memorable 2-1 series win, including a historic win at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia’s ‘fortress’.

However, India is set for a long Test season and aims to qualify for a third consecutive WTC final. But while Team India is preparing to go to Australia, Indian fast bowler Shardul Thakur, who was part of the team during the last tour of Australia, has made some worrying revelations. During a public event, Shardul spoke in detail about the problems the Indian team was facing off the field throughout the tour.

Team India had to face these problems during the Australia tour

Shardul revealed that the facilities provided to the injury-hit team were very poor. Notably, the then Indian captain Virat Kohli left the team after the first Test due to personal reasons, some key players like Mohammed Shami, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Umesh Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah suffered injuries throughout the series.

“The way they treated us was terrible,” Thakur said, recalling that visit.

“There was no housekeeping service at the hotel for four or five days. If you had to change bed sheets, you had to go up five floors,” he said.

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Shardul Thakur talking about on Australia tour in 2020/21 and their facilities and words for Indian Team.pic.twitter.com/KBpfIQ35bE

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Australia captain Tim Paine was called a liar

He also addressed an interview of then Australian captain Tim Paine, saying that he had lied when he said the Indian team was given everything they wanted.

Thakur said, “I have heard some interviews of Tim Paine. That person was lying outright, he was saving himself by making things up in the media and hiding the fact that ‘we did not put any pressure on the Indian team and gave them everything they wanted.’ But I know the truth.”

“Virat (Kohli) had left – and Ajinkya Rahane and Ravi Shastri were regularly fighting with Cricket Australia to give us the services we were demanding,” he said.

Shardul is currently away from Team India

Shardul was not part of India’s last Test series against England at home but he played the first Test of the team’s previous tour to South Africa earlier this year.