Hindustan Surkhiyan Desk: It took India only 4.3 overs to erase the rain-blushes and end a long wait of 71 years to gain a 2-1 lead over Australia in their own backyard for the first time on Day 5 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Jasprit Bumrah and Ishant Sharma took the last two Australian wickets as India completed a famous 137-run win in the third Test to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Chasing a target of 399, Australia were bowled out for 261, adding only 3 runs to their overnight total. It was Jasprit Bumrah, who gave India the breakthrough in the fourth over of the day after rain had washed out the entire first session. Bumrah bowled a peach of a delivery to Cummins that caught him on the crease, leaving him after pitching to take the outside edge of his bat and land on Pujara’s safe hands in first slip. It not only ended a fighting inning from Pat Cummins but also ended whatever high-hopes Australia had after the rain delay on the final day.
An over later, Ishant Sharma got Nathan Lyon with a nasty bouncer. The latter went for a pull shot but only managed to glove it to Rishabh Pant. And that was it, Virat Kohli needed no second invitation to go an out of the world celebration, screaming his lungs out. He had all the reasons to do that. Kohli became the first Indian captain in 71 years to take a 2-1 lead down under.
“We knew that it would be tough for Australia, but credit to our bowlers, especially Jasprit. The three fast bowlers have broken the record for most wickets by pacers in a calendar year for a team, which is brilliant,” Kohli was all praise for his speed merchants.
“I certainly feel proud as a captain when they bowl in partnerships. No one is looking to out-bowl each other. Our first-class cricket is amazing, which is why we won. Credit must go to first-class set-up in India, which challenges our fast bowlers in India, and that helps them abroad,” the skipper said.
Apart from a great batting effort in the first innings, which laid the foundation for the victory, it was Jasprit Bumrah who was the main architect of India’s famous win. Bumrah was adjudged Player of the Match for his 9-wicket haul in the match. It was his career-best 6 for 33 on Day 3 that helped India bowl Australia out for 151 and take sizable first innings lead that negated the collapse suffered in the second innings (106/8 dcl.)
Ravindra Jadeja (3/82) and Mohammed Shami (2/71) also provided able support to Bumrah, who again picked up 3 for 53 in the second innings
India thus won a Test match at the iconic MCG after 37 long years when Sunil Gavaskar’s men beat Greg Chappell’s side in the 1980-81 series. This was also India’s 150th Test win – only the fifth side to do that.
