2
2
1
4lb
0
0
= 9
Match Details
AUS vs IND 4th TEST, IND vs AUS 2020-21
IND 336(111.4)
329-797.0
India won by 3 wickets
369(115.2)
AUS
75.5294-10
Commentary
All
Highlights
Overs
W
6s
4s
Inn 1
Inn 2
Inn 3
Inn 4
Milestone
Arya: So thats all from the commentary box today. It hasn't yet sunk in. What an exhibition of Test cricket it was. So India register a 2-1 series victory and this is their 2nd series win in Australian soil. Till the next time, tata and babyee from me, Arya Sekhar Chakraborty and my co-commentators Akshay Bhide, Sourya Chowdhury and Kingshuk Kusari.
Arya: Wow, Wow, Wow. This series victory is a proud moment for all Indian fans and the countrymen especially those who kept backing India after the aberration of 36 in Adelaide. The so-called pundits of Australian cricket had written them off and predicted a 4-0 series victory for the Aussies. Its the perfect way to just go and tell them, "Shut up". I might have mentioned this already but this is really the greatest ever Test series victory in Indian Test history. Ajinkya Rahane is yet to lose a match as a captain and can be proud of his team.
Ajinkya Rahane, Indian skipper: "It really means a lot to us. I don't know how to describe this victory. I'm just proud of all the boys, each and every individual. We just wanted to give our best, not to think about the result. When I went in, conversation between me and Pujara was Puji to bat normal and me to go for my shots, because we knew Rishabh and Mayank were there. Credit to Pujara, the way he handled the pressure was magnificent, and Rishabh was brilliant in the end. Taking 20 wickets was the key, that's what we identified, that's why we picked five bowlers. Washington Sundar got that balance for us, intention was to play five bowlers. Siraj had played two Test matches, Saini one, Thakur one, Natarajan also on debut, all credit to them. After Adelaide we didn't discuss about what happened, we just wanted to play our game, show good attitude, show good character on the field. It was all about the team effort. I would also like to thank our fans who came out here and supported us, and the Indian team would like to give Nathan Lyon a signed jersey for his 100th Test match."
Tim Paine, the Australian skipper: "Absolutely disappointed. We came here to win the Test and win the series, it's been a bit of a trend that we were found wanting in the key moments and completely outplayed by a tough Indian side that fully deserves the win. I think there's lots of things we'll look back at, but what's done is done. We need to look forward now, there's a big series in South Africa coming up, we've been outplayed by the better side in this series. I think we got about what we wanted in the end. We wanted to set a bit over 300, dangle a carrot to win the Test match and win the series. We might have had another 20 overs had it not rained. But India turned up and put their bodies on the line. [Reviews] are part of the job. sometimes they work, sometimes they don't. But all credit to India, our bowlers threw everything at them."
Pat Cummins is the Player of the series for bagging 21 wickets in this series. This is what he said at the post-match presentation- "Good hard day of Test cricket today, I thought Rishabh and the whole Indian side played fantastically, took the game on and deserved the win. I would have liked the cracks to play a few more tricks, but it was a pretty good wicket. Once you were in, it was pretty free-flowing, the runs. I thought today and in Sydney the game was ours to win on day five, but we didn't take enough wickets, but overall happy [with my performance]."
Rishabh Pant is the Man of the Match for his extraordinary match-winning knock. This is what he said, "This is one of the biggest moments of my life now, and I'm happy that all the support staff and all my teammates supported me even when I wasn't playing," he says. "It's been a dream series. The team management always backs me and tells me, you are a matchwinner and you have to go win the match for the team. I keep thinking every day that I want to win matches for India, and I did it today. It was a fifth-day pitch and the ball was turning a bit. I thought I have to be disciplined with my shot selection."
At the start of the day, many would have suggested that India will be settled with a draw as it was Australia who needed to win the Test match to get the Border Gavaskar Trophy back. A draw would have been enough for India to retain the trophy but the mindset of this new Indian set-up was quite exemplary. They backed themselves to chase this stiff target down and with 3 overs left in the day's play, India marched home by 3 wickets, what a win, the greatest ever in Indian cricketing history for me
Arya: Washington Sundar joined Pant in the middle and took the attacking approach from the outset. They batted quite sensibly and made sure that India kept the required rate within the check. A breezy 50 runs partnership made sure India was within touching distance of the target. With more than 50 required in the last 8 overs, it was carnage on display by Pant and Sundar and all of a sudden India required just 10 of the last 4. They lost Sundar and Shardul Thakur in quick succession but that wasn't enough to give the Aussies a sniff. In the end, Rishabh Pant drilled one low full toss down the ground and history was made.
Arya: Just like the 2nd innings of the Sydney Test, Rishabh Pant was promoted up the order as India kept going after the target. He began cautiously but as his innings went by, he slowly changed his gear and struck the boundaries at crucial junctures of the match which never really allowed the required rate to climb. Along with Pujara, he shared an important stand before Pujara was dismissed by a ball which jagged back sharply and struck him plumb in front.
Arya: The day began with the Indian score reading 4/0 and they needed to bat out of their skin either to save or win the Test match. The visitors lost Rohit Sharma early in the day but it was Shubman Gill and Cheteshwar Pujara who resurrected the chase with a brilliant partnership. While Pujara was solid as a rock, Gill was the adventurous one who was not bogged down by the occasion and kept playing his shots. His classy knock of 91 was studded with 8 fours and a couple of sixes before Nathan Lyon dismissed him with a loopy delivery outside off. Ajinkya Rahane joined Pujara in the middle and his attacking approach clearly showed that the Indians were going for the win. His breezy knock of 24 came in 21 deliveries before his dismissal while attempting an upper cut.
Arya: If you are an Indian fan you have to be proud of what India has achieved today. With at least 7 of their first-choice players out of the XI, it was an emotional roller coaster for India as they emerge victorious by 3 wickets and take the Border Gavaskar Trophy by a 2-1 margin.
Arya: My hands are shivering as I start summing this match up. Tears rolling down my cheek as its hard to believe what India has achieved here. What a moment, lost for words. This victory will definitely rank as the greatest ever overseas win for India and the series victory will arguably be the biggest in their Test cricketing history especially after what happened in Adelaide.
Sourya: They have played like warriors, lions and all the other adjectives that can come to your minds. Gill was sublime, Pujara steadfast and Pant unflappable. What a Test. It was a privilege to have commented on it.
OVER 97.0
India
329/7
R Pant
89(138)
Navdeep Saini
0(0)
Josh Hazlewood
1-74(22.0)
Sourya: Battered, bruised, depleted, verbally attacked, but never broken, this Indian team. They have scripted history here by possibly recording their most famous away Test series victory against a full strength Australia team after winning the series 2-1 after defeating the hosts at their veritable fortress Gabba. This is cricketing history made right before our eyes.
96.6 Josh Hazlewood to R Pant
4 INDIA HAVE WON THE TEST MATCH. THE FORTRESS HAS BEEN BREACHED. Attempts a yorker on the stumps, Pant drives it straight down the ground and beats mid off and it races away for a boundary. Take a bow India. Take a bow Rishabh Pant. India Regain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy winning 2-1
96.5 Josh Hazlewood to R Pant
0 Hazlewood bowls it well down the leg side and Pant misses the slog
Sourya: They are just trying to give you more than the value for your money here. That's it.
New batsman on crease
Career
Navdeep Saini
29 yrs
Best
3
- MATCHES1
- RUNS3
- SR23.00
- AVG3.00
Commentary