India’s epic win at the Gabba: India’s recent Test journey has seen more ups than downs in recent times. The post-pandemic narrative has seen India dominate across conditions. They would have ideally wanted to win in South Africa but had to settle for a 1-2 scoreline. India has notched up remarkable wins in the last 2 years. The Test team has unearthed new heroes every time the going has got difficult.
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We look at India’s epic win at the Gabba, Brisbane:
The fortress called Gabba:
It was a battered and bruised side that was hanging onto the finest of margins in the final match of the series. India had almost fielded a second-rung side against the home team in their fortress Gabba, Brisbane. Australia hadn’t lost a single Test here since 1989. India surely was up against it. Australia won the toss and elected to bat first. Indian bowlers who had a combined experience of 13 wickets between them bowled out the Aussies for 369.
The team was almost pushed to the brink:
Indian openers got the side off to a decent start but they failed to convert it into a good score. Indian middle order kept losing their wickets at regular intervals. The visitors were reduced to 186-6 at one stage. It appeared that India had finally thrown in the towel of what was a gruelling series.
The partnership that kept the hopes alive:
Washington Sundar in his debut Test and Shardul Thakur in just his second Test joined forces. The pair batted beautifully mixing caution with aggression to keep the scoreboard ticking. They seemed unperturbed at the biggest of the stage. Sundar and Thakur meted out severe treatment to all Aussies bowlers sparing no one. Their partnership of 123 took India close to Australia’s first-innings total. India was bowled out for 336 conceding a 33-run lead. For the umpteenth time in the series, India had refused to bow down.
India bowl Australia out twice:
Australian openers got the side off to a quick start. It appeared as if the home side would bat India out of the contest. Indian pace attack though had other ideas. Mohammad Siraj and Shardul Thakur picked up 9 wickets between them. It was Siraj who finished with a five-wicket haul in just his third Test. India had restricted the Aussies to 294. It meant India needed 329 runs to win the series on the final day!
The final showdown:
It came down to the final day to decide the winner of the Border-Gavaskar trophy. India required a draw to retain the trophy but a few young men in the side had other ideas. Rohit Sharma departed early but his opening partner Shubman Gill more than made up for it. Gill’s attacking knock kept India ahead in the game. Cheteshwar Pujara on the other hand kept copping up blows but didn’t give it away.
The mantle kept passing and India kept coming:
Gill went for 91 but stand-in captain Ajinkya Rahane continued in the same vein. It was the biggest statement of intent signaling that India will go for the win. Rahane’s cameo was short-lived but in walked Rishabh Pant. Pujara and Pant were at it again. The Aussies started getting ruffled. Pat Cummins worked his magic with the new ball dismissing Pujara and then Mayank Agarwal. India at one stage needed 55 from the last 10 overs. They had 5 wickets in hand!
The blitzkrieg at the end:
The draw appeared a logical result considering the stakes of the game. But Pant and Sundar turned it around in stunning style. Sundar was especially hooked and flicked his way to a memorable contribution. Pant then put on the finishing touches to take India to victory with three overs to spare.
A victory that nobody saw coming:
The fortress was breached. A side that was repeatedly written off right since they arrived on Australian shores created history. India won successive series down under. If the win in 2018-19 was thought of as a one-off here was India challenging the world order. They outplayed and outlasted a strong Aussie side in their den. There is little surprise that it ranks among one of India’s greatest-ever Test wins!
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