Magnificent India win epic series in last hour of last day of last Test
Shubman Gill 91, Rishabh Pant 89*, Cheteshwar Pujara 56 hand Australia their first defeat at Gabba in 32 years
Shubman Gill 91, Rishabh Pant 89*, Cheteshwar Pujara 56 hand Australia their first defeat at Gabba in 32 years
Scorer: Chandan Duorah | Commentator: Karthik Krishnaswamy
6.03pm Rahane hands the trophy to T Natarajan, the juniormost member of the side, as India pose for team photos. It's a bittersweet feeling that this series has ended, for me and I'm sure for all of you as well. We've seen some incredible Test cricket over the years, and this series ranks with anything you might throw at it. Remember also that all this unfolded in the backdrop of a global pandemic, and thank everyone who made this series happen. It's been an absolute privilege bringing it to you, so from myself, Gnasher, Varun, Chandan, and everyone else involved in this series, thank you for following our coverage (there's a lot of post-match stuff to come still), and goodbye.
And if you want to relive all the emotions of this incredible day, and you happen to live in the subcontinent (sorry, everyone else), here are the highlights.
Ajinkya Rahane: "It really means a lot to us. I don't know how to describe this victory. I'm just proud of all the boys, each and every individual. We just wanted to give our best, not to think about the result. When I went in, conversation between me and Pujara was Puji to bat normal and me to go for my shots, because we knew Rishabh and Mayank were there. Credit to Pujara, the way he handled the pressure was magnificent, and Rishabh was brilliant in the end. Taking 20 wickets was the key, that's what we identified, that's why we picked five bowlers. Washington Sundar got that balance for us, intention was to play five bowlers. Siraj had played two Test matches, Saini one, Thakur one, Natarajan also on debut, all credit to them. After Adelaide we didn't discuss about what happened, we just wanted to play our game, show good attitude, show good character on the field. It was all about the team effort. I would also like to thank our fans who came out here and supported us, and the Indian team would like to give Nathan Lyon a signed jersey for his 100th Test match."
Tim Paine: "Absolutely disappointed. We came here to win the Test and win the series, it's been a bit of a trend that we were found wanting in the key moments and completely outplayed by a tough Indian side that fully deserves the win. I think there's lots of things we'll look back at, but what's done is done. We need to look forward now, there's a big series in South Africa coming up, we've been outplayed by the better side in this series. I think we got about what we wanted in the end. We wanted to set a bit over 300, dangle a carrot to win the Test match and win the series. We might have had another 20 overs had it not rained. But India turned up and put their bodies on the line. [Reviews] are part of the job. sometimes they work, sometimes they don't. But all credit to India, our bowlers threw everything at them." Pat Cummins is the player of the series. "Good hard day of Test cricket today, I thought Rishabh and the whole Indian side played fantastically, took the game on and deserved the win. I would have liked the cracks to play a few more tricks, but it was a pretty good wicket. Once you were in, it was pretty free-flowing, the runs. I thought today and in Sydney the game was ours to win on day five, but we didn't take enough wickets, but overall happy [with my performance]."
Rishabh Pant is the man of the match. "This is one of the biggest moments of my life now, and I'm happy that all the support staff and all my teammates supported me even when I wasn't playing," he says. "It's been a dream series. The team management always backs me and tells me, you are a matchwinner and you have to go win the match for the team. I keep thinking every day that I want to win matches for India, and I did it today. It was a fifth-day pitch and the ball was turning a bit. I thought I have to be disciplined with my shot selection."
5.50pm What a chase. And everything went to plan for India. Cheteshwar Pujara sewed one end up for more than half of the day, and by the time the final hour began, the Australian bowlers had very little left in the tank for a final push. But India were never too far behind the ask, on a strange pitch where the ball misbehaved frequently but also came onto the bat very very well, which meant the bad and marginally bad balls kept disappearing to the boundary. Shubman Gill timed it like he was batting in a dream, and Rishabh Pant, well, batted like only he can. From Australia's perspective, a lot of questions will be raised around Mitchell Starc's performance.
Oswin: ""Wait until you get to Gabba, mate" - ha ha ha!"
Floyd Harrison: "To quote the millions of Indians from overseas and the billions at home; "Wow" "
Sujoy: "Aussies can't fathom what happened in last 90 minutes or so! " -- I'm not sure I can either.
Kausik ghosh: "Miracle repeats after 20 years !"
Raj: "Injuries to key bowlers was a blessing in disguise for India. When it mattered the most in the final test India had a much fresher bowling attack which seems to have mattered a lot. The poor Aussie bowlers were looking too tired on the final day." -- Fresher, but who would have known they'd bowl so well?
DivasK: "AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH! Sorry I cannot scream at 2:41 AM in my dorm here in Toronto, this will have to do! What a fantastic series, thanks for taking us home, Karthik."
5.38pm Phew, let me collect my thoughts for a minute. Wow. India have won 2-1. They've won the decider with this bowling attack: Mohammed Siraj, T Natarajan, Shardul Thakur, an injured Navdeep Saini, Washington Sundar. They took 20 wickets. At the Gabba. Where Australia hadn't lost in a million years. And what about the batting? Shubman Gill hadn't made his debut before this series, Rishabh Pant wasn't a certainty before this series, and Virat Kohli is watching this from halfway around the planet. The last day at Sydney couldn't be bettered, you might have thought, but here we are, last day in Brisbane, last day of the series. It's unreal, simply unreal.
India are taking a slow victory lap around the Gabba now. What scenes. Mohammed Siraj and Shardul Thakur are right out in front of it. You could pick anyone and stick them in front and it would be apt.
Here's Navdeep Saini. They crossed over, so Pant will be on strike. Hazlewood goes over the wicket to him now. Arun: "I would like to believe I played a major part with cricinfo partnership in this (possibly) win of India. Ever since the 36 all out session that I saw I have been only seeing the series via cricinfo and that too in a very superstitious way - I have are only scores via the series tab and then frantically read every ball commentary at the end of the day. Boy cricket is superstitious isn't it."
Rama: "Tim Paine : Can't wait to get to the Gabba. So can't we"
Andrew : "Got only respect for the way India has played. Well done and see you at Lords. From New Zealand."
SN Thakur c Lyon b Hazlewood 2 (5m 3b 0x4 0x6) SR: 66.66
Over the wicket to Thakur. Two slips and a gully.
Hazlewood, around the wicket.
Seth: "Now Australia might be wishing for rain. So much for aus white washing India 4-0."
Vote for the best individual Border-Gavaskar Trophy performance by an Indian in Australia since 2000
Vote for the best individual Border-Gavaskar Trophy performance by an Indian in Australia since 2000
Vote for the best individual Border-Gavaskar Trophy performance by an Indian in Australia since 2000
Vote for the best individual Border-Gavaskar Trophy performance by an Indian in Australia since 2000
His biggest achievement has been his ability to consistently take wickets in Australia, a country which has generally been inhospitable to spinners