GOTCHA AT GABBA PANT’S KICK IN THE PANTS
India has often been blamed for the death of Test cricket, such has been its recent obsession with the quick-fire T-20, exemplified by the IPL circus. At Gabba, finally came redemption with Team India resurrecting the five-day game from the shallow depths of instant cricket, with a historic three-wicket win over Australia.
Ironically, the team that led the charge and showed a never-seen-before zeal to
Successfully chase a 328-run target in the fourth innings, was saddled with bruises, broken bones and battered bodies. Already, the mainline players had been ferried home on the stretcher.
In terms of relevance, therefore, a series win without Virat Kohli, Mohammed Shami, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin and Jasprit Bumrah not available at various points, is zillion times more significant than the 2-1 win in 2018-19 when the opposition didn't have Steve Smith and David Warner in its ranks.
A minefield of talent called Rishabh Pant (89 not out off 138 balls) channelled his inner 'Mad Max' to scare the daylights out of the Australians with his breathtaking stroke play, ending the home team's 32-year-old unbeaten run at the 'Fortress Gabba'.
The result has the potential to end Tim Paine's reign as Australia captain having lost back-to-back home series against India.
The highlight of the day was Rishab’s battle with Nathan Lyon as he demolished the 100-Test man in the company of debutant Washington Sundar (22), who hooked the world's best fast bowler, Pat Cummins, for a six. No one moved from their seats as Pant cut, drove, and paddle-swept to make a statement to his detractors while gifting India one of their finest overseas wins during the dying moments of the final session with an off-driven boundary.