On this day in 2019 – India seal their first Test series triumph in Australia

January 7th 2019 will be a date that will be enshrined in the hearts of every Indian cricket fan. For the first time in history, the Indian side, led by Virat Kohli managed to trump Australia in a Test series in the kangaroos’ own backyard. Cheteshwar Pujara led the charge with the willow in the series for India, scoring 521 runs, including three centuries at an average of 74.43.

India went into the fourth Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) with already one hand on the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. While the visitors had managed to hold their nerve and win the first Test in Adelaide by a margin of 31 runs, Australia had stormed right back into the series by thrashing the Indian side by 146 runs in the second game at Perth. Jasprit Bumrah’s heroics with the ball allowed India to win the Boxing Day Test at the MCG by 137 runs and take a 2-1 lead. And it was in this background that India entered the Sydney Test, with a chance to create history.

Cheteshwar Pujara bats Australia out of the match

India won the toss and opted to bat first at Sydney. Even though India lost KL Rahul early, Cheteshwar Pujara was as solid as a rock and proved to be the thorn in the flesh of the Aussies. In a marathon stay that lasted 373 deliveries, the right-hander scored 193, to bat Australia out of the game. Rishabh Pant too joined in the act later in the Indian innings and scored a 189-ball 159 in an innings laced with 15 fours and a six. India ended their first innings with a score of 622.

In reply, only opener Marcus Harris offered some resistance for the hosts. The left-hander scored 79 at the top of the order but did not receive adequate support from his teammates as the kangaroos were bowled out for 300. Kuldeep Yadav was the pick of the bowlers for the visitors, picking 5/99.

THANK YOU! 2-1 ???? #TeamIndia #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/syKRSOgaWQ

— BCCI (@BCCI) January 7, 2019

Australia were asked to follow on by the Indian side. But then, rain thwarted India’s chances of making it 3-1. The visitors did not complain though. Kohli and his men had managed to accomplish a feat that no Indian Test team had achieved before. And, that series win on Australian soil is one that will be savoured by the players as well as the whole of India for a long time.