Border Gavaskar Trophy 2017
India was ranked seventh in Tests when they left Australian shores in 2014-15. They had a new Test captain – Virat Kohli. India took rapid strides soon after. They humbled the mighty South Africans 3-0 in a 4-match Test series. The wickets were arguably prepared in favour of spinners. South Africa had no answer but India couldn’t care less. They usurped the then number 1 ranked Test team. Let us look at details on Border Gavaskar Trophy 2017.
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The home dance in 2016-17: Border Gavaskar Trophy 2017
India went beyond the spin trick when they came up against England in a 5-match Test series. They beat them 4-0 on truer surfaces. India’s home season of 2016-17 was going according to plan. They had 4 Border-Gavaskar trophy Tests to play. It would round off their home season. India was buoyant but Australia had its plans too.
#1 The shocker at Pune
Pune played host to the first Test between India and Australia. Steve Smith-led Australia was touted as one of the weakest Australian teams to tour India. This facet eventually played to Australia’s advantage. One could sense India was complacent.
Steve O’Keefe picked up a 12-wicket haul and Smith scored a plucky century in the second innings to drub India. The game was done and dusted within 3 days. Virat Kohli faced his first defeat at home as captain. Australia went up 1-0 and sensed something special. India reeling from defeat had to conjure something up. The series was set for a brilliant narrative!
#2 India persevere in Bangalore
The action shifted to Bangalore for the second Test on what was a challenging surface for the batters. Nathan Lyon picked up 8 wickets on the opening day to reduce India to 189. The Aussie openers knocked 40 runs off the total at stumps. India had a big day in front of them. Their pacers stepped up magnificently controlling the tempo of the game.
Australia crawled their way to an 87-run lead but India hung in the game. They set a target of 190 odd in the final innings. Their bowlers collectively blew away the Aussies. The tide appeared to have turned towards India in this Test. They were made to work hard but they persevered to level the series.
Also Read: Border-Gavaskar trophy: Numbers Game This Century – Part I
#3 The rumble at Ranchi
Virat Kohli was visibly unhappy with Australia’s DRS approach. He came close to uttering the dreaded word but left it to the press to fill the space up. Australia was under the pump. But the Aussies refused to throw in the towel. They posted a good first innings score but India put up an even bigger one.
Cheteshwar Pujara and Wriddhiman Saha ensured India had a lead of over 200. But a benign wicket helped Australia to secure a draw. The Test wasn’t devoid of action as Kohli’s injured shoulder drew sharp reactions. Australian players mocked him, Kohli retorted, it started getting theatrical!
#4 Fitting finale at picturesque Dharamshala
India was without the services of their talismanic captain in Dharamshala. Kohli for all his aggression had miserly returns with the bat. He scored just 46 runs in 5 innings at an average of 9.2. But he turned up as a cheerleader, drinks player, and everything he could to needle the Aussies. Kuldeep Yadav picked up a four-wicket haul to keep the Aussies in check.
India’s seamers ripped apart Australia in the second innings to chase a modest target in the final innings. KL Rahul and Ajinkya Rahane comfortably took India home. India won the series 2-1. The scoreline justified how closely the series was fought. It was the last time a visiting team tested India at home!
