The Indian team has registered a historic win against Australia in recent times. Who would have thought that India would win the Boxing Day test after the Adelaide debacle?
No Virat Kohli, no Rohit Sharma, no Ishant Sharma, no Mohammad Shami and the humiliation of getting bundled out for 36 in the second innings of the first Test notwithstanding, Team India under stand-in skipper Ajinkya Rahane scripted a majestic comeback in the Test series against Australia as they won the second Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground by eight wickets on Tuesday.
India level the series! #AUSvIND
Second Test scorecard: https://t.co/qwpaGhOixs pic.twitter.com/dLy3kC1B0M
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 29, 2020
The win not only brings India right back in the series but also a step closer to the final of the World Test Championship. While no word is enough to describe the heroics of skipper Rahane, one man who deserves special praise is opener Shubman Gill.
The cover drive on the up! A stunning shot from Ajinkya Rahane and a pretty good snapshot of India’s performance in the second Test.@hcltech | #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/Kx5g3GE5T2
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 29, 2020
Congratulations to Ajinkya Rahane, the inaugural winner of the Mullagh Medal!
The Boxing Day Test Player of the Match medal has been named in honour of trailblazing Indigenous cricketer Johnny Mullagh (Unaarrimin). pic.twitter.com/nhHH3c6Xmx
— Cricket Australia (@CricketAus) December 29, 2020
Brought into the team after first-choice opener Prithvi Shaw failed in the opening game, Gill showed application in both essays and was unbeaten with skipper Rahane (27) when India crossed the line. His unbeaten 35 off 36 balls will stand India in good stead with Rohit set to start the third game.
Mayank Agarwal’s poor show continued as he once again failed to grab the opportunity and was dismissed for just 5 as India chased 70 for a win on the fourth afternoon. Cheteshwar Pujara also failed to rise to the occasion and was dismissed for just 3 by Cummins. But that is a worry the team management will look into ahead of the next game. For now, it is one inspired show by the Indian boys when critics in Australia had called it a 4-0 series win after the loss in Adelaide.
To win a Test match without Virat, Rohit, Ishant & Shami is a terrific achievement.
Loved the resilience and character shown by the team to put behind the loss in the 1st Test and level the series.
Brilliant win.
Well done TEAM INDIA! 👏🏻 #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/64A8Xes8NF— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) December 29, 2020
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Earlier in the day, Australia was folded for 200 and India required 70 runs to win the match and draw the series.
Mohammad Siraj struck twice while Jasprit Bumrah and Ravichandran Ashwin picked a wicket each in the first session on Day 4 of the Boxing Day Test.
India skipper Virat Kohli hailed stand-in captain Ajinkya Rahane after the team scripted a majestic comeback in the series. “What a win this is, absolutely amazing effort by the whole team. Couldn’t be happier for the boys and specially Jinks who led the team to victory amazingly. Onwards and upwards from here,” Kohli tweeted.
What a win this is, absolutely amazing effort by the whole team. Couldn’t be happier for the boys and specially Jinks who led the team to victory amazingly. Onwards and upwards from here 💪🇮🇳
— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) December 29, 2020
Head coach Ravi Shastri said India’s 8-wicket triumph in the Boxing Day Test against Australia on Tuesday will be regarded as one of the “greatest” comeback wins in the annals of world cricket.
“It’s a great present from the team to millions of supporters to have a very happy new year. This will go down in the annals of Indian and world cricket as one of the greatest comebacks. From being 36 all out to coming back in three days, the boys showed great composure,” Shashtri told the press.
