AUS vs IND: Five talking points from the sensational tour down under
Team India had a memorable tour in Australia as with their determination and grit, they managed to win the marquee Border Gavaskar Trophy by 2-1 despite losing their key players to injury. The Men in Blue had also clinched the T20I series by 2-1 while they were outplayed by the hosts in the One Day Internationals.
The viewers were served with utmost entertainment throughout the two-month-long tour. In addition, the tour was marred with injuries too as many unpleasant things hogged the limelight. In this article, let’s take a look at such prominent incidents that became the focal point of discussion for the fans and the cricket fraternity.
5. Ravindra Jadeja concussion
In the first T20 International, India had made use of the concussion rule by substituting Yuzvendra Chahal for Ravindra Jadeja after the latter was hit on the helmet while batting. However, this had raised quite a few eyebrows as many felt that Jadeja couldn’t take the field to bowl as he was suffering from hamstring issues. Inclusion of Chahal for bowling was the best decision for India as he bowled a match-winning spell by taking 3 wickets.
UPDATE: Ravindra Jadeja was hit on the helmet in the final over of the first innings of the first T20I.
Yuzvendra Chahal will take the field in the 2nd innings as a concussion substitute. Jadeja is currently being assessed by the BCCI Medical Team. #TeamIndia #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/tdzZrHpA1H
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 4, 2020
4. India Players face racial abuse
This was one of the most unpleasant things that happened with visitors during the third Test at Sydney Cricket Ground as Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah became a victim of racial abuse by the Australian spectators. It was reported that some of the Australian fans hurled offensive slangs on the two Indian pace sensations. Team India had reported about the same to the match officials after which the International Cricket Council (ICC) and Cricket Australia (CA) assured the visitors of taking necessary actions.
Indian pacer Muhammad Siraj has once again complained of racial abuse from the crowd during the 1st day of the 4th #AUSvIND test match at the GABBA. pic.twitter.com/hEXFheWQVW
— PTV Sports (@PTVSp0rts) January 15, 2021
3. Bio-bubble breach
Five Indian players including Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Prithvi Shaw, Navdeep Saini and Rishabh Pant had gotten into trouble after it was reported that the players dined at an indoor restaurant and had contact with an Indian fan, which was against the bio-bubble rules laid out by Cricket Australia (CA). However, the players were later declared innocent after they tested negative for coronavirus and BCCI intervened into the matter.
2. Paine-Ashwin banter
On Day 5 of the Sydney Test, Hanuma Vihari and Ravi Ashwin had shown resilience and valiance to help India save the Test. The two players together survived as many as 259 balls, however, this left the Australian captain Tim Paine frustrated and he resorted to sledging. Paine had tried to get under the spinner’s skin by saying: “I can’t wait to get you to the Gabba Ash” Ashwin wasn’t the one to step back as he replied, “Come to India that will be your last series.” After this Paine became aggressive as he abused Ashwin by calling him a ‘d***head’
Paine – See You at GABBA mate
Ashwin – Come to India, it will be your last series ?pic.twitter.com/y3EKafxRON
— Cricketopia (@CricketopiaCom) January 19, 2021
1. Steve Smith scuffing Rishabh Pant’s batting guard
Tim Paine on Steve Smith video: “That’s something Steve’s done a lot. It’s something we always have a laugh about … There’s no way in the world he was trying to change Rishabh Pant’s guard or anything like that.”#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/WqMr2sT07N
— Nic Savage (@nic_savage1) January 12, 2021
Former Australian captain Steve Smith was severely criticised on social media after the video of him scuffing up the batting guard of Rishabh Pant during the last day of Sydney Test had surfaced on social media. Smith also shadow-batted at the striker’s end after which Rishabh Pant had to take fresh guard. The whole matter was blown out of proportion as Smith had to endure a lot of hate and criticism. However, the batsman hadn’t done anything wrong and his actions were taken in a bad light by the Indian fans.
