Jan 24, 2021, 10:27 PM IST
Over 60 million people watched India script history at the Gabba in Brisbane as the team overcame the mighty Australian challenge to win the Border-Gavaskar Test trophy.
For legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar, it was a moment that he would cherish for the rest of his life - the moment when an Indian team won the decider Test match against a full-strength Australian side without the big names and a young bowling attack.
Shortly after the Test series concluded, Channel 7 organised a farewell party for its commentators and crew.
Recollecting his euphoria, Gavaskar told Asianet Newsable, "At the Channel 7 farewell party on the last day I walked around the room with my glass raised and every Australian there cheered. Then Brian Charles Lara came and hugged me, and screamed 'we won, we won'."
"What a series! Will cherish these memories for whatever is left of my life. I am still over the moon and still in orbit," the batting legend said.
The Champions Down Under
India was defending the trophy it had won during its last visit, in 2018-19. The visitors already knew they would miss out on the services of regular skipper, Virat Kohli who was to leave the side following the opening Test, on paternity leave.
As India began its title defence in Adelaide, it was off to a horrific start in a day-night Test, being bundled out for its lowest-ever Test total of 36 and losing the game by eight wickets. While it was in dire need of a comeback, the side suffered a blow with seamer Mohammed Shami being ruled out.
Nonetheless, India made a resounding comeback in the Boxing Day Test, in Melbourne, and won the clash by eight wickets, in what was the side's first Boxing Day Test win, Down Under. However, India went on to add added another member to its injury list with pacer Umesh Yadav being added to the injury list.
As things proceeded to Sydney, India looked on course to win the tie in the final innings. However, further injury struggles compelled the side to settle for a gritty draw. As many as nine players had joined the injury list following the Test.
It was all down to the decider in Brisbane, where India had never won a Test before. Things boiled down to the last day with the Australians setting a steep target of 328 for the Indians. It was opener Shubman Gill and wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant, along with Cheteshwar Pujara's authoritative resilience, that allowed India to break the Brisbane curse and script history, by becoming the first Asian side to win successive Test series, Down Under.