Standing tall Down Under: India win maiden Test series in Australia

Indian Team posing for a group photograph alongwith trophy
Indian Team posing for a group photograph alongwith trophy

Sydney, Jan 7:

Indian cricket got its new seminal moment after the talismanic Virat Kohli led the country to a maiden Test series victory on Australian soil, ending a 71-year wait to script a golden chapter in the game’s history.
Gloomy weather and a dark Sydney skyline were witness to Indian cricket’s brightest hour in what was the country’s 12th attempt to achieve something perceived as impossible at one point of time.
The fourth and final Test match at the SCG petered to a barren draw due to inclement weather but not before providing India with a 2-1 series win and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
It is a rare first Down Under for India since Lala Amarnath’s side visited the country back in 1947-48 months after independence to face Sir Don Bradman’s ‘Invincibles’.
“Firstly, I want to say I’ve never been more proud of being part of a team, than this one right here. The culture we’ve built… Our transition began right here, where I took over as captain, and I can’t believe that after four years we’ve won here. Just one word to say, ‘proud’, to lead this team and it’s an honour and privilege. The boys make the captain look good,” an elated skipper Virat Kohli said after the mission was accomplished.
Things turned out to be a bit of anti-climactic in the end as India had a fair chance of adding insult to the injury with a 3-1 victory margin as they got the home team to follow-on in their den for the first time in 30 years after scoring 622 in their only innings.
Cheteshwar Pujara for his 521 runs deservingly got the ‘Player of the Series’ award.
It was a ‘freeze the frame’ as the Indian team took a ‘Lap of Honour’ of the SCG with the both Indian and Australian fans cheering them.
“This is history and a terrific moment for Indian cricket,” said country’s greatest opener Sunil Gavaskar.
Such was the fragility of the Australian batting, a full day’s play possibly could have been enough to win a record three Test matches in a single series in Australia had the heavens not opened up (PTI)

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