Visitor India came up with a historical performance to tame host Australia on Day 5 of the final Test against host Australia, at The Gabba in Brisbane, on Tuesday. It was three splendid knocks, including a late smart blitz from Rishabh Pant that allowed India to become the first Asian side to win consecutive Test series, Down Under.
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Earlier, Australia had elected to bat, as it had posted 369, while India was bundled out for 336, handing the host a lead of 33 runs. In the second innings, Australia extended the lead to 327, while Day 4 was somewhat cut short by a couple of rain breaks.
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As India resumed its innings at the overnight score of 40, openers Rohit Sharma and Gill looked to get off to a booming start. However, just 14 runs later, the former departed for mere seven off pacer Pat Cummins, after edging it behind to wicketkeeper, Tim Paine.
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Nonetheless, the pair of Gill and Cheteshwar Pujara took control for the rest of the session, until lunch, while the former brought up his second Test half-century. Although the Australians tried to test the Indians with the short balls, it failed to damage the latter, despite Pujara struggling with it, while Gill played them better.
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Gill and Pujara started the post-lunch session on a positive note, at 831. Both put up a 114-run stand for the second wicket before the former fell for 91 to veteran spinner Nathan Lyon after Steve Smith caught a sharp edge, in the slips.
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While skipper Ajinkya Rahane looked to consolidate, it was at the score of 167 when he departed for 24, after being caught behind by Paine off a brilliant Cummins delivery. Nonetheless, since then, Pujara and wicketkeeper-batsman, Rishabh Pant, had taken control, before the tea break kicked in.
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The Indians came out with a similar intent at the post-tea session, at 1833, as Pujara and Pant contributed to a 61-run stand for the fourth wicket. At 228, it was the former, who fell for 56, after Cummins trapped him leg-before.
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As Mayank Agarwal joined Pant, the pair contributed 37 more, before the former threw away his wicket for mere nine, handing an easy catch to Matthew Wade at mid-off, off Cummins again. In the meantime, Pant brought up his fourth Test half-century.
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It was then the pair of Pant and debutant Washington Sundar, who took charge for some time. Despite some close calls, the duo played some brave and exquisite shots, before Sundar departed for 22, at 318, after being cleaned up by Lyon.
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With just ten more needed, out came Shardul Thakur and joined forces with Pant, only for the former to depart for a mere couple off Josh Hazlewood, after being caught by Lyon. Navdeep Saini came in next and it happened to be the final pair, as they sealed the deal for India, thus completing the historic win by three wickets.
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As for the Australians, six bowlers were utilised, with Cummins making the most impact. They did the short ball virtually, troubling Pujara a lot.Brief scores: Australia 369 & 294 (Smith 55; Siraj 573, Thakur 461) lost to India 336 & 3297 (Gill 91, Pujara 56, Pant 89*; Cummins 455) by four wickets.
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