“The breath of a wounded lion is far more terrifying than its roar.”
India won a marvellous Victory against Australia amidst wounds made by injuries of top players, sledging and racism. This is the first-ever victory of the Indian team at Gabba and the first time that Australia has been beaten in 32 years.
India started the test tour with an 8 wicket failure at Adelaide. Adelaide test loss was accompanied by a shameful record of lowest test innings total for India-36/10. The Adelaide loss and returning of captain Kohli to homeland made former Aussies players predict a whitewash for India in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. But the astounding performance of Bumrha, Aswin, Jadeja and Captain Rahane’s class century bagged an 8 wicket win for India in the second test at MCG.
Although the third test started with a strong partnership of Smith(131) and Labuschagne(91), India defended very well with the ball. India who started with a target of 407 got a good opening by Gill-Rohit partnership. Even though India lost 3 wickets by scoring just 100 runs. The defensive play of Pujara and ODI style play of Rishab Pant who came after the fall of 3rd wicket helped India to achieve 250. Even though the wicket loss of Pant and Pujara descended the hope of Indians, team India heroically drew the match by the confident wall built by Aswin and Vihari in 6th wicket and. In addition to sledging and racism against Indian players, top players like Jadeja, Bumrha, Aswin, Vihari were injured by the third test at SCG.
Aussies started the 4th test with Labuschagne’s century and Captain Tim Paine’s half Century against the ‘handicapped’ India. But India replied with a record-breaking 7th wicket partnership by Shradhul Takoor and the debutant Washington Sundar. Although Indian innings was all out before taking the lead, the bowling row headed by Siraj (5wickets) and Takoor(4 wickets) threatened the Aussies batting line. India lost their first wicket in the first session on the last day. But the matured play shown by Pujara and Gill in the ground made the Indian score above hundred. When Mayank left the ground after Gill who missed his first test century by only 9 runs and Rahane got out after Pujara, Pant who came as 5th number played aggressively on the other side of the crease. When Washington Sundar who made 50 runs partnership with Pant bowled out as 6th wicket and Takoor got caught in Hazelwood’s over before reaching two digits, India was a few runs away from the victory. Pant smashes Hazelwood’s next ball after Takoor’s departure to the boundary and India won the series by 2-1 with the historic match.
Stars of India
As the commentator quoted after the winning shot by Pant, he is the main star of team India in this series. He played consistently throughout the series with two excellent half-centuries. He is leaving Australia with records in his hands. He became the first player to score above 25 in 9 consecutive matches against Australia. As the wicketkeeper of India, he became the one who crossed 1000 runs in less number of matches.
When looking into the opening batting line Shubman Gills gives good hope for Indian Cricket team. He showed a matured performance in the entire series. Rohit who joined the team lately also played well. But Skipper Rahane couldn’t keep the consistent performance after his century in the second test. The name Pujara is something we can’t forget in this series. Even though he got criticized for his slowest fifties, his defensive playing was what made a hold for India in the crease against the hazardous bowling line of Australia. During the last day, he played a ‘bloodshed’ innings against the bounces of Aussies bowlers.
Apart from Bumrha, Aswin the debutants Natarajan, Siraj, Saini, Sundar showed an excellent performance. Sundar made a dreamlike debut with 4 wickets and 84 runs with a class fifty. Siraj’s and Takoor’s bowling performance, Sundar-Takoor record-breaking partnership and Pant’s astounding innings have helped India to break the Gabba fortress.
