The Indian cricket team under the captainship of stand-in captain Ajinkya Rahane, gave Australia an utterly shocking and humiliating defeat by 3 wickets in Brisbane test on Tuesday, 19th January, wrapping the much-anticipated series 2-1. This was Australia’s first defeat at Gabba in 32 years. They have never lost a match on this ground since 1988. India’s regular captain Virat Kohli, who returned home to be with her daughter’s birth exclaimed by tweeting “What a Win, Yessss. To everyone who doubted us after Adelaide test, stand up and take notice”. Cricket lovers all over the world went jubilant on India’s win crossing national and racial boundaries. A lot of praise came from across the border from India’s arch-rival, Pakistan as well.
Prime Minister of India was among those who took to twitter to congratulate the young winning team.” We are all overjoyed at the success of the Indian cricket Team in Australia. Their remarkable energy and passion were visible throughout. So was their stellar intent, remarkable grit, and determination…” Modi said. The Indian cricket board, BCCI, announced a cash award of US $960,000 for the team on their historic win.
There were many of cricket’s current and former stalwarts who predicted humiliating defeat for India including many of Australian greats, had to eat their words after the historic Indian win. Former England captain Michael Vaughan was among those who predicted a 4-0 humiliation for India, hailed it as one of the greatest if not the greatest Test victory of all times. “Egg on my face over here in UK…but I love to see character and skill that this Indian team has in abundance”, he said. He hailed Indian openers Shubhman Gill and wicket keeper-batsman Rishabh Pant as India’s future superstars.
Ex-Australian captain Ricky Ponting also made similar prediction, was hugely disappointed with the performance of the hosts. He said “the cold hard fact of it is pretty much that was the India A team that played this test match and they still won. That’s a real concern for Australia”.
Although there were many discoveries of this tour, in absence of many regular players including Indian captain Virat Kohli and yet the injury-ravaged tourists humbled Australia with a 2-1 series triumph. The new defiant and determined young blood has the mettle to face any situation, head on. The new and young players played like heroes without succumbing to all the Australian tactics of bullying and sledging through the series.
India’s win is historic in many ways and will be remembered in the annals of history for a long time. The gallant and fearless display of batting prowess by young cricketers sets a precedence for the future generations that with grit and firm determination, old history can be changed, and new history can be written. – Yugal Parashar
