India's series win against Australia.

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India has done it. After the ignominious defeat at Adelaide test played with the pink ball, India has bounced back to win the series 2-1 in the four test series. No one expected India to win the series after the first test defeat where they were all out for 36 in the second innings, the lowest test score. India entered the second test at Melbourne with a stand in captain Ajinkya Rahane as Virat Kohli had gone on a paternity leave. Rahane led by example scoring 112 and leading India to a victory. Then when the team went for the third test at Sydney many never gave India a chance. Set to score 407 for victory it was thought Indian defeat was a reality. On the last day with more than half the side gone and India left to defend 42 overs in hostile conditions against an hostile seam bowling with only Ashwin and Hanuma Vihari to defend, the prospects of India drawing the match looked grim. But both Ashwin and Hanuma Vihari defended well with the former scoring 39 not out of 128 balls and the latter though suffering from hamstring scored 23 not out of 161 balls thus successfully thwarting the Australian attach and drawing the game for India. It was a brave effort and both the players were severely bruised after taking body blows from the Australian bowlers. When India went to Brisbane, Gabba the series was wide open. A draw here would make India retain the Border -Gavaskar trophy and a loss would make India lose the trophy which they won in the series of 2018-19.

India were a depleted side with many injuries. Jadeja,Ashwin,Shami,Vihari not available with injuries. Two debutants were fielded T.Natarajan and Washington Sundar both from Tamil Nadu and Mohammed Siraj.

Australia batted first and scored 369.India fought back with the score of 336 with debutant Washington Sundar scoring 62 and Shradul Thakur 67, being the highest scorer. Australia scored 294 in their second innings with Siraj taking 5 wickets in his debut test. India was set a target of 328 runs to win. It was thought that India would play for a draw and retain the trophy. Initial batting revealed only that. Gill played a calm innings of 91. Pujara left for 56. When Pant came to the crease the chances of a Indian victory looked possible. Pant scored 89 of 128 balls being not out and Washington Sundar chipped in with a bright 22 in 29 balls thus leaving Australian bowlers stranded and India made 329 for 7 and won the series 2-1.

It is to the credit of Indian players who stood calm despite being racially abused and constantly sledged by the Australians.

A new dawn for India cricket has come with young cricketing talents in display in the form of Gill, Siraj, Natarajan, Washington Sundar and Shardul Thakur.

 

 

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