India required 87 runs going into day 4 of the Border-Gavaskar decider at Dharamsala with all ten wickets intact. Even at the stroke of third day’s play Indian openers looked comfortable at the crease. But knowing Australia, we were expecting a final twist in the tale. Even Glenn Maxwell in his interview suggested that. But KL Rahul who has been in ominous form throughout the series, stood up tall one last time absorbing pressure and getting boundaries, maybe streaky but he kept the right intent.
But Australia soon bounced back taking two important Indian wickets of Murali Vijay for 8 and Cheteshwar Pujara fell soon, for a duck, he was unfortunate to get run out. But then, Rahane walked out and wanted to finish the game in a flurry. He hit two sixes and breezed to 36 off 20 balls. Pat Cummins bowled his heart out but they did not have too much to play with. This shows the importance of the slender 32 run lead India got in the first innings. The pitch played up really well throughout the series, giving a chance to the bowlers and the batsman. The victory is also big in the sense that India’s big player Virat Kohli was not playing. Their was also reputation at stake for India, but they showed they are a big team when they lost at Pune in a crushing manner and then came back strong to bite the visitors and win it from the jaws of defeat. India won the match by 8 wickets.
INDIA WIN! The hosts claim an 8-wicket victory to clinch a gripping Test series: https://t.co/1HG79qHddv #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/VaaxdGAjxM
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) March 28, 2017
Brief scores: KL Rahul- 52*, Rahane- 38, 106/2. India won by 8 wickets.
Well then #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/xciqRDoma8
— cricket.com.au Video (@CricketVideo) March 28, 2017
Indian players will now be featuring in the Indian Premier League, which is slated in a weeks time. On the grapevine, we also get to hear that Virat Kohli may miss out on the first two IPL fixtures.
Game. Set. Match…#TeamIndia win the Decider Test by 8 wickets. Claim the 4-match series 2-1 #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/UkpNLqNShH
— BCCI (@BCCI) March 28, 2017
And it’s another half-century for Rahul in the series.
64 & 10
90 & 51
67
60 & 52*https://t.co/1HG79qHddv #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/8SJZkZo7Jc— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) March 28, 2017
Post match: After the match, Virat Kohli in his PC said that there is ‘no’ point being friends with Australia. Steven Smith in the meanwhile has tendered an apology to Virat Kohli during his PC. Karma prevail. Its 2-1 period!
