Ind vs Aus:- With just a day left for the classic Border-Gavaskar series, we bring you the story of the underdogs who turned down the tables in Australia in 2020-21. With what began with a humiliating loss in the Adelaide Pink Ball Test, no one knew that the world was going to witness a finest comeback ever.
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The most awaited Ind vs Aus series of the year is just around the corner. The Border-Gavaskar Trophy, a series played in the test format between Australia and India named after the two great cricketers from the respective nations, Allen Border from Australia and Sunil Gavaskar from India. 1996-97 was the year when the first edition of this series was conducted since then, there have been 15 editions played so far, with India winning on 9 occasions. On the other Australia won on instances. Only once the trophy was shared by both nations, way back in 2002-03.
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2020-21 was arguably one of the best test series in the history of the sport. Before the 2023 edition of the Ind vs Aus series begins, the story of the significant comeback that a team (India) could have ever made.
Ind vs Aus :- The Pink Ball Event
In the first test match played at the Adelaide Oval, the Indian team was famously bowled out for just 36 runs in the second innings, but that’s not how the things began. Having won the toss in the only pink ball affair, then skipper Virat Kohli Opted to bat first. Batting first India lost Prithvi Shaw on the second delivery of the day itself. Mitchell Starc cleaned him up straight and Shaw departed without scoring a run. Out Walked Mr. Dependable Cheteshwar Pujara. The bowling duo of Hazlewood and Starc kept testing the Indian batters (Mayank Agrawal and Cheteshwar Pujara). After the dismissal of Mayank Agrawal 17(40), skipper Virat Kohli stitched a 68-run stand with Pujara before the latter was dismissed after scoring 43 runs .
Kohli’s Run-Out:-
After Pujara’s dismissal Kohli held an end tightly. He continued to build another partnership with Ajinkya Rahane and just when the things were looking settled and just when Kohli wasn’t looking like getting out, a miscommunication between the skipper and vice-captain caused a run-out. Rahane called for a run, but immediately said no but up-to that point skipper was halfway down the pitch and couldn’t make it back to the crease. This turned out to be a pivotal moment, as India was looking all set to score a big total, but was further bundelled out for just 244 runs.
India’s bowling department steps up :-
With just 244 on the board, all the cricket pundits were certain that the Australians will take an easy lead. Openers Matthew Wade and Joe Burns made sure that, they provide their side a watchful start. Indian bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Umesh Yadav were bowling a fiery spell. Matthew Wade’s struggle came to an abrupt end when Wade missed a fuller length delivery and the ball stuck him on his pads, he was adjudged LBW and with this wicket, Indian announced aussies that they were not going anywhere without putting up a fight.
Bumrah added another wicket to his tally when he dismissed another opener joe burns LBW, but after this wicket, it was all a one-man show. Ravichandran Ashwin on pacer friendly pitch picked up four crucial wickets. Picking up Steve Smith first, Ashwin departed Travis Head and Chris Green too. Lyon was the fourth batsman to fall prey to Ashwin.
Umesh Yadav picked up 3-crucial wickets. For the first time in Day-Night tests, Australians failed to take a first-inning lead. Although the bowlers stepped up nicely, it was India’s fielding effort that was below par.
The Shocking Collapse:-
Leading the first innings by 53 runs, Team India entered the field to extend their lead and post a solid total, but what followed next was something no one saw coming. It was not like India didn’t see batting collapse before, but the horror show that Indian batters put up was the most unexpected performance one could have imagined. None of the Indian Batters could touch the double-digit mark and India was all out for just 36 runs. It is India’s lowest total in tests. It just took 21.2 Overs for Australians to clean India up. Hazlewood scalped 5 wickets and Cummins picked up 4, thus being the star bowlers. Shami Walked off the field with an injury to his right hand.
Chasing just 89 runs Australia defeated India by 8 wkts in the first eventful match of the border gavaskar trophy 2020-21.
Check India’s Collapse :- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sUMaRqoPmI
Ind vs Aus :- The Melbourne Glory
With a mark of 36 all out on the back and regular skipper Virat Kohli going on paternal leave, it was a tough assignment for Ajinkya Rahane to put the team on the winning ways again. Heading to the most vital match of the bi-lateral series India made 4 changes to their squad with Gill and Siraj handed their debut caps. Jadeja and Pant were the rest two additions.
Winning the toss Australia opted to bat first and their openers made their way in.
The Bumrah-Ashwin Show :-
The decision to bat first didn’t go in favor of Australia. Opener Joe Burns was quickly removed by Bumrah. Although there were few partnerships, Bumrah-Ashwin’s show stole the spotlight. The Australian team could only gather 195 runs before they were bowled out. Bumrah picked up 4 wickets (Burns, Head, Starc, Lyon) and Ashwin picked up 3 (Wade, Smith, Paine). Debutant Siraj impressed all by scalping up 2 wkts (Labuschagne, Green), and Cummins fell to Jadeja.
Captain Rahane’s Ton Puts India in driver’s seat:-
After the bowlers displayed a strong performance, all India needed was to put the horrors of 36 all out behind and put up a fine effort in batting. Although Mayank Agarwal (0) departed early, another debutant Shubhman Gill (45) announced his arrival with a solid performance. After Gill’s departure stand-in, skipper Rahane walked out in the middle. First with Vihari (21), then with Jadeja (57), captain Rahane built two well-grounded partnerships before he bought his 12th test century. Rahane (112) got run out.
With the help of Rahane’s Century and Jadeja’s half century India scored 326/10 and took a crucial lead of 131-runs.
Bowlers set it up for India: –
After a quality batting display, the bowlers again took the matter into their own hands. Another fine spell of bowling ensured that the Australians didn’t run away with the match fluently. Tight bowling lengths and wickets at regular intervals ensured that Australia was all out for 200 setting up a target of just 70 runs for India.
India Squares up: –
With just 70 runs needed to win, another solitary batting display from Shubhman Gill (35*) and Rahane’s anchoring knock (27*) India made a remarkable comeback after going down in Adelaide. The series was now at 1-1.
Ind vs Aus :- The Sydney Show
Once again coin went up in the air and fell in Australia’s favor. Tim Paine decided to bat first, leaving behind the past batting performances , Australia showed a different approach in their batting. With Steve Smith’s (131) ton, Will Pucovski’s (62), and Labuschagne’s (91), for the first time Australia crossed 300 run mark in the series. Just when Australia was looking all set to score a big first-innings total, Jadeja’s 4 Wicket haul ensured Australia was all out for 338.
Indian Batting Woes Return :-
Chasing a 338-run first-inning score of Australia, Indian Openers Rohit Sharma (26) and Shubhman Gill (50) provided a solid 70-run stand, Pujara too displayed his natural defensive game and scored a hard-fought (50), this was Pujara’s slowest test fifty. Hanuma Vihari took 38 deliveries to score his 4 runs. Pant (36), Rahane (22), Jadeja (28), and with the lower order contributing very less, the Indian innings came to an end after scoring 244 runs. Australia managed to clinch a huge lead of 94 runs.
Australia extends its lead :-
With a lead of 94 runs, Australia entered on the field with intentions to post a big target to India. The openers Warner (13) and Pucovski (10) fell cheaply, Steve Smith (81), Labuschagne (73), and Green (84) pushed Australia to 312/6. Australia declared with a lead of 406 and asked India to chase 407.
India Fight Backs :-
Rohit (52) and Shubhman (31) provided another solitary start with 71 run stand. But as Day 4 ended, it seemed like India was left to do too much. On the morning of Day 5 Skipper Ajinkya Rahane was removed quickly, leaving alone the thought of winning, draw seemed impossible at that instance of time, left handed Rishabh Pant was promoted to number 5.
The southpaw and Cheteshwar Pujara played their respective games where on one end Pujara was playing a Defensive inning, and on the other end Pant took the attacking mode to put the Aussies in panic mode. Both the batsman completed their respective half-centuries. Just when it felt that India was going for a victory, Pant was dismissed 3 runs short of his century. Pujara too fell on 77 and from there, the game of blockathon began. Hanuma Vihari with an injury and Ravi Ashwin faced all sorts of fiery deliveries. They took balls on their bodies but ensured that they successfully blocked 259 balls and forced Australia to settle for a draw.
Going into the final test of the series score line stood at 1-1.
Ind vs Aus :- Breaching The Gabba Fortress
Australia’s 32-year-long unbeaten run at Gabba was weighing in favor of Australia. Once again Australia started as a favorite. Tim Paine won yet another toss. Before the gabba test, India was hit hard by a series of injuries. Injury to Hanuma Vihari opened the gates for Washinton Sundar’s debut, and T. Natrajan was another debutant.
Riding high on Labuschagne’s Century (108) and Skipper Tim Paine’s half-century (50) Australia posted 369/10 in the first Innings.
In reply, India was all out on a score of 336. Australia was leading again by 33 runs, and they posted 294 runs in the second innings. Mohammad Siraj Picked up a 5-fer and played a vital role in bundling Australia out.
Gill, Pujara, Pant Seal the Fortress: –
On the final day, chasing 328 on the final day, everybody was convinced that India would go for a draw but the young team had different intentions. Gill (91) started the day on a high note, missed on his century. Pujara continued his form and held another end to score another 50 in the series. Finally, it was Rishabh Pant (89*) who countered the attack against Australian bowlers and with a boundary did the inevitable. As Rishabh scored the winning runs, the entire Indian team ran on the field.
They knew they did something extraordinary, to beat Australia in Gabba, not only breaching their fortress for the first time in 32 years but most importantly winning the series 2-1.
The series win was also special because it came after a humiliating 36 all out at Adelaide. Also the team was battling with injury issues defying all the odds India ensured that they return as Champions.
With all the twists and turns, this was one of the best test series in the history of the game.
Check India’s Batting on last day :- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wY6UyatwVTA
Also Read :- https://bolchhattisgarh.in/rss-and-mohanbhagwat-whyy-gave-a-big-statementt/
