Indian cricket team exacted revenge on Australia by defeating the hosts in the Boxing Day Test match by eight wickets to level the four-match Test series 1-1.
After reducing Australia to 133/6 by the end of the third day of the second Test match, the hosts were all out for 200 runs on Day 4 with India needing just 70 runs to win.
Despite the easy target, India saw early setbacks with Mayank Agarwal and Chetershwar Pujara returning to the pavilion after scoring 5 and 3 respectively. However, skipper Anjinkya Rahane and debutant Shubman Gill stood their ground to see off a comprehensive eight-wicket victory for the visitors.
! bounce back in style to beat Australia by 8⃣ wickets to level the four-match series.
Scorecard
— BCCI (@BCCI)
This will go down as one of India's most memorable test wins. Winning a test in Australia is always special but to do so given the wounds of Adelaide and the absence of key players makes it one for the ages
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha)
Shubman Gill and Ajinkya Rahane survive early jitters to help India win by 8️⃣ wickets in Melbourne
The series is now level at 1-1. SCORECARD ▶️
— ICC (@ICC)
In the absence of veteran fast bowlers like Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and Umesh Yadav, a young Mohammed Siraj led the charge for India’s bowling by taking five wickets in two innings.
Apart from him, debutant Shubman Gill also shone with significant knocks of 45 and 35* to help steady India’s ship in crucial situations, and give India a real opening option for the present and future.
No Kohli.
No Shami.
No Ishant.
No Rohit.
No Umesh in second innings.
Gill making debut.
Siraj making debut.
Lost the toss.Still, India beat Australia in Australia - One of the greatest wins ever in Test cricket history.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns)
To win a Test match without Virat, Rohit, Ishant & Shami is a terrific achievement.
Loved the resilience and character shown by the team to put behind the loss in the 1st Test and level the series.
Brilliant win.
Well done TEAM INDIA!— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt)
However, it was the captain’s knock that has got every talking. In the absence of Virat Kohli, stand-in skipper Ajinkya Rahane showed class, grit and leadership to bring India back into the contest.
After Rahane’s brilliant knock of 112 runs in the first innings set the ball rolling for India for a win at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), the skipper returned to finish things off in the second innings with a 40-balls-27.
Rahane’s the best captaincy performance I’ve seen in my time watching Test cricket at the MCG. Superb on every day of the match.
— Adam Collins (@collinsadam)
Rahane scoring the winning run for team India: how fitting! A historic win. A great match to watch.
— Chloe-Amanda Bailey (@ChloeAmandaB)
1-1 with 2 to play! This should always be known as Rahane's match
— Daniel Brettig (@danbrettig)
The Player of the Match and the inaugural winner of the Mullagh Medal is India's captain Ajinkya Rahane!
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau)
India will next face Australia in Sydney for the third Test match, which is scheduled to start from January 7, 2021.
Feature Image Courtesy: AFP/ William West
