WHAT A WIN! INJURY-RAVAGED INDIA HUMBLE AUSTRALIA TO TAKE SERIES
Injury-hit India record ‘one of the greatest-ever Test wins’ to take series 2-1
INDIA pulled off a record run-chase in a thrilling final session to hand Australia their first defeat at Brisbane’s Gabba ground since 1988 and clinch the four-Test series 2-1 on Tuesday (19).
Wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant starred with a swashbuckling 89 not out as the injury-depleted visitors overhauled the 328-run target with three overs to go, winning by three wickets.
Australia had not been beaten at the Gabba since falling to Viv Richards’ allconquering West Indies side by nine wickets in November 1988.
India’s 329 for seven also smashed the 69-year-old record for the biggest runchase at the ground, set by Australia who scored 236 for seven to beat the West Indies in 1951.
The Border-Gavaskar series win was a stunning turnaround after India were bowled out for their lowest Test score of 36 to lose the first Test in Adelaide, before bouncing back to win the second game in Melbourne.
The visitors, ravaged by injuries and captain Virat Kohli’s absence due to paternity leave, then batted throughout the final day to draw the third Test in Sydney.
Australian media called the win a “miracle”, while former England captain Michael Vaughan said it was “one of the greatest, if not the greatest, Test victory of all time”.
“It really means a lot to us. I don’t know how to describe this victory but I’m really proud of all the boys,” said India’s interim skipper Ajinkya Rahane.
“They showed character, attitude, especially after the Adelaide Test. We decided we’re going to fight really hard... and we just wanted to give our best.”
Man-of-the-match Pant, who played a similarly explosive innings in the drawn Sydney Test, blasted his 89 from 138 balls with nine fours and a six.
His innings followed an equally impressive knock from 21-year-old Shubman Gill, who made 91 at the top of the order earlier in the day.
Cheteshwar Pujara’s 56 was also vital. The gritty number three was hit 10 times by Australia’s quicks, taking blows to the fingers, arm, ribs and head as he was subjected to a searching examination by Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood.
Cummins with 4-55 was easily the pick of the Australian attack, but the rest of the bowlers looked fatigued after their all day effort in Sydney eight days ago.
“I’m absolutely disappointed, no doubt about that,” Australia captain Tim Paine said after the game.
“It’s probably a little bit of a trend the whole series. I think in the key moments we were found wanting and completely outplayed by a really disciplined, really tough Indian side who fully deserved the series win.”
Despite Australia’s fearsome record at the Gabba, the Indian batsmen showed no fear and never looked interested in playing for a draw, even after losing the wickets of Pujara and Mayank Agarwal after tea.
Pant took advantage of any loose balls, but also played some outrageous strokes, showing the influence of T20 cricket.
India started the day on four for none after bowling Australia out for 294 late on the fourth day.
Australia raised hopes of a seriesclinching victory after Rohit Sharma edged Cummins to wicketkeeper Paine, who took a fine diving catch.
But as India have shown since their capitulation in Adelaide, they are never out of the contest.
Their effort in the fourth Test is even more admirable considering the high injury toll on tour.
Their bowling attack was led by Mohammad Siraj, who debuted in Melbourne, supported by Navdeep Saini, Shardul Thakur, T Natarajan and Washington Sundar, who had two Tests between them.
After just one wicket in the first session, Australia could only manage two after lunch, with Gill falling for his superb 91 and skipper Rahane a quickfire 24.
Gill was magnificent on a fifth-day wicket, smashing the Australian bowlers to all corners. He hit eight fours and two towering sixes in his 146-ball innings before he became Nathan Lyon’s 398th Test victim, edging to first slip where Steve Smith took a sharp catch.
With Pujara anchoring one end, Rahane raced to 24 from just 22 balls before he edged Cummins to Paine to leave India 167 for three.
India looked in control through the final session, despite losing three wickets, getting home when Pant fittingly hit the winning four off Hazlewood.