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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.

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.

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.

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

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