PRAISE FOR TEAM’S ‘PLUNDER DOWN UNDER’
SACHIN TENDULKAR and Virat Kohli led tributes on Tuesday (19) to India’s cricketers after their stunning fourth Test and away series win over Australia.
Tendulkar described it as “one of the greatest series wins” after a fearless Rishabh Pant helped the injury-plagued visitors hand Australia their first defeat at Brisbane’s Gabba ground since 1988.
“Every session we discovered a new hero. Every time we got hit, we stayed put & stood taller. We pushed boundaries of belief to play fearless but not careless cricket,” Tendulkar tweeted.
Kohli, India’s captain in the first Test in Adelaide – when the team were skittled for 36 – and who returned home for the birth of his child, said: “WHAT A WIN!!!”
“To everyone who doubted us after Adelaide, stand up and take notice. Exemplary performance but the grit and determination was the standout for us the whole way. Well done to all the boys and the management. Enjoy this historic feat lads,” Kohli tweeted.
Sourav Ganguly, the head of India’s cricket board, said the 2-1 series victory – India’s second straight series win in Australia – was nothing short of historic.
“To go to Australia and win a Test series in this way... will be remembered in the history of indian cricket forever,” Ganguly tweeted.
He announced a special bonus for the team of `50 million (£499,397).
Cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle said the Gabba ground is “no longer the Gabbatoir. This is history.”
Indian prime minister Narendra Modi tweeted that the country was “overjoyed”.
“Their remarkable energy and passion was visible throughout. So was their stellar intent, remarkable grit and determination. Congratulations to the team! Best wishes for your future endeavours,” he said.
Even Google’s India-born chief executive Sundar Pichai got in on the act.
“One of the greatest Test series wins ever. Congrats India and well played Australia, what a series,” Pichai tweeted.
The Times of India’s headline online was “Plunder Down Under”.
“The forecast was for rain... but it rained boundaries and sixes from the bat of the Indian batsmen as they put in a gallant effort to pull off a thrilling win,” the Hindustan Times said.
The Indian Express added that the day “will go down in the annals of Indian cricket as one of its most glorious days – when a cobbled-up bunch, missing most of the biggest stars, trumped Australia at its fortress Gabba.”
Former England captain Michael Vaughan, who had predicted a 4-0 clean sweep by Australia, admitted he now had “egg on my face” and was “getting a lot of tweets from #India !!!”
“The Greatest Test series win of all time,” Vaughan said, calling Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill “future superstars”.
Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan called it an “absolutely marvellous victory for our team!!!” Ordinary Indians were also delighted. “This is a dream win. No one expected them to beat Australia... Every player proved his worth,” said Sunny Ahuja, a cricket fan from Delhi.
“Australia were playing India’s B team on their home ground but the youngsters showed their character and demolished the mighty Australians beautifully,” said Rashed Beigh in Kashmir.