Fighting against the odds: India’s incredible fightback in historic series victory
Virat Kohli, Anil Kumble, Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar, Mohammad Azharuddin, Kapil Dev, Sunil Gavaskar, Bishan Singh Bedi, Nawab Pataudi. The above list does encompass the elites of Indian cricket who have captained India in Australia. Time to add another name. It’s the Ajinkya Rahane’s awe-inspiring wave which has flagged India’s epoch-making win on the Australian soil.
Call it Indian cricket’s chart-topping folklore or a fictitious fairy-tale, this win is a manifestation of a profound vow which inculcates resolute energy based on unbelievable faith. While the grit, the grind and the gut are the moral characteristics of this impregnable series win, so has been the fortitude of ceaseless odds.
36 all out in Adelaide
While the flurry of encountering odds had already begun when Rohit Sharma was all set to miss the first half along with captain Kohli’s unavailability for the remainder, the demons of 36 all-out did disparage a venomous clean sweep.
That nagging line and length tad outside off along with some movement has been India’s biggest infirmity. But what made it unpleasant was Australia’s profusion which jolted India to taste its lowest point in their Test cricket at least by numbers.
But as there’s always a second life. As there’s always a spring after winter. There comes Melbourne and there comes skipper Ajinkya Rahane’s unravelling show – first with the bat and then with his ingenuity. Not only it became a momentous comeback but also made the iconic MCG as India’s best away venue.
India all out 36. Their lowest total in Test history. #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/t3maXx1HHJ
— Adam Collins (@collinsadam) December 19, 2020
Injury Woes
While the list had begun with Rohit and Ishant missing, who knew a plague of injuries would abide by the Indian dressing room. Every passing Test match depleted India’s frontline bowling. Siraj, who was a frontline of India A prior to this tour had become India’s chief with the ball. Now with the series being enclosed, India has lost its four front line players all out injured.
Vihari – Ashwin grit in Sydney
Undeniably, it was this arduous draw at the SCG which gave team India a real sniff of retaining the Border-Gavaskar trophy. Regardless of Pujara’s block which assassinated time along with Pant’s natural intent to chase which actually trembled Aussies into doldrums with their field. Tenaciously, the two bruised men (H Vihari & R Ashwin) were the unreal architects.
While battling for his Test career on one leg (Hanuma Vihari), along with his partner who had a tweaked back (R Ashwin) facing the chin music by Pat Cummins, along with some blows in the ribs, this 42.4 over partnership can be termed as the epitome.
A partnership to remember – @ashwinravi99 & @Hanumavihari
62* off 259 deliveries ??#TeamIndia #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/jKR6lO9LHP
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 11, 2021
Breaching Australia’s fortress
If WACA can be conquered (2007-08) then Brisbane can be breached. Although, both the grounds are an imposing depiction of Australia’s hard bouncy pitches and dignified ground sizes, India has arguably fetched its two biggest overseas triumphs in these impenetrable conditions.
While the fairy tale has been beyond belief and imagination so were the adversities before the fourth Test. Not sure whether the 32 years of Australia’s undiluted glory was more daunting or the equation ratio of the wickets exhibiting 1033:13. In addition to that, there comes a lost Toss along with a robust stat showing that no team has ever ascended a successful chase of over 200.
But with “Pant hai toh possible hai” being team India’s new slang, there came a victory which has transpired Indian cricket into new standards and horizons.
