A battered and bruised Indian cricket team soldiered on to a thrilling conclusion of the AUSvIND Test series.
The frustrated Australian bowlers tried all the tricks of the trade to dislodge the Indian batsmen. Short-pitch bowling seemed to be the favourite weapon of ace pace bowler Pat Cummins as he attempted to dislodge Cheteshwar Pujara. Pujara, though, protected his wicket, taking on a barrage of bouncers and hits on his fingers, elbows, back and head. (He’d been hit over 10 times by the time he reached 40 runs, fast bowling legend Brett Lee even pointed out on commentary.)
With a solid 56 off 211 balls, taking blows to support Shubman Gill’s heroic 91 and provide solidarity to Pant at the crease, Pujara’s stoic efforts set social media ablaze.
Ouch… Pujara needed a checkup after that one from Cummins 😬
📺 Watch Day 5 #AUSvIND on Fox Cricket or Kayo: https://t.co/9BpN7p3sZp
📝Live blog: https://t.co/peBsCNpx63
📱Match Centre: https://t.co/ApeG4HBAF0 pic.twitter.com/jKK1fi8NvW
— Fox Cricket (@FoxCricket) January 19, 2021
At the start of the day, India needed 328 runs to win a historic match and even the series against all odds. By the end of the day, cricket fans were glued to their screens, waiting with bated breath till Pant’s elegant boundary confirmed India’s exciting win.
With those four runs, India inflicted Australia’s first defeat at the Gabba in the last 33 years.
After losing the first test in Adelaide by being bowled out for 36, India’s comeback not only amazed cricket tragics but won the admiration of sport lovers globally. With their captain on paternity duties, and six of their frontline players sidelined due to injury, the almost second-string Indian cricket team won the four-Test series 2-1 and retained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, giving the full-strength Aussie team a run for their money on their home soil.
Understandably, social media users, including cricket players from around the world, congratulated the Indian team on the win.
EVERY SESSION WE DISCOVERED A NEW HERO.
Every time we got hit, we stayed put & stood taller. We pushed boundaries of belief to play fearless but not careless cricket. Injuries & uncertainties were countered with poise & confidence. One of the greatest series wins!
Congrats India. pic.twitter.com/ZtCChUURLV— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) January 19, 2021
India thoroughly deserved to win this series, against all odds they stood tall. Australia has some serious thinking to do, had the advantage of home series, fitness and the toss across the series! #AUSvIND
— Tom Moody (@TomMoodyCricket) January 19, 2021
Made sure India won in Australia in 2018-19.
Almost made sure India doesn’t lose in Australia in 2020-21.
Insulted. Bruised. Battered. But didn’t give up.
Test cricket’s purest batsman today… Pujara, you absolute rockstar! #AusvInd
— Chetan Narula (@chetannarula) January 19, 2021
If 2005 wasn’t the Ashes this would be the greatest Test series of all time. On second thought, even if 2005 was the Ashes, this is the greatest Test series of all time #AUSvIND
— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) January 19, 2021
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