Extraordinary scenes as heroic India overcome incredible odds to defeat Australia in the fourth Test in one of the sport’s greatest finishes with just 18 balls and three wickets to spare
India have broken the hearts of Australia claiming an extraordinary victory in the fourth Test to take series 2-1.
The visitors needed to chase 328 runs on day five at the Gabba in Brisbane after Australia declared with a seemingly unbeatable lead at a ground considered to be a fortress for travelling teams.
But a gutsy batting display by the Indians who were without stars Virat Kohli, Ravichandran Ashwin and Jasprit Bumrah saw the tourists snatch the win with just 19 balls and three wickets to spare.
It was the highest ever total chased in the final innings of a Test match at the ground.
It’s the second series in a row that India has won Border-Gavaskar Trophy on Australian soil.
At one stage Indian were 5-265 and appeared long odds to reach the total with Pat Cummins tearing into the middle order with large cracks visible on the wicket.
The fast bowler ended up taking an impressive 4 wickets for 55 runs but it wasn’t enough.
Nathan Lyon peppered the Indian lineup with off-spinners but only managed 2 for 85.
The normally reliable Mitchell Starc failed to take any wickets and was belted for 20 runs from his 12th over during the middle session.
Rishabh Pant’s brilliant 89, following on from opener Shubman Gill’s 91, guided India to their victory on Tuesday, which was the first time since 1988 an Indian side has beaten Australia in Brisbane.
With all outcomes possible on what proved to be a nip and tuck final day of an epic and often controversial series, India seized the initiative in the last session having battled hard all day.
Rishabh Pant hit a brilliant unbeaten 89 to win the fourth Test and the series for India
Pant waves his bat to the crowd at the Gabba after reaching his half-century on the fifth day
Pant moved into one-day mode and was joined by first Washington Sundar, who made 22 before being bowled by Nathan Lyon, Shardul Thakur and Navdeep Saini, to get India home by three wickets amid nerve-shredding tension in Brisbane.
It meant India won the four-Test series 2-1 despite being ravaged by injury, confined by Covid-19 quarantine and without their captain Virat Kohli for the last three Tests.
Kohli and his wife Anushka Sharma had their first child in the new year, and the Indian superstar headed home after the first test.
A win appeared out of reach for all but Australia at lunch, but India backed themselves in a record-breaking fourth innings chase at the Gabba.
Rishabh Pant and Washington Sundar stepped up in the final session to stun the hosts.
‘Young India has done it. Young India has shown the way. Young India is showing that they are not afraid. What a win. What a magnificent win,’ proud Indian great Sunil Gavaskar said in Channel 7 commentary.