Team India and its fans waited till eternity to witness a victory in Australia. It took 71 years of its cricketing history for India to emerge victorious in a Test series in Australia. There have been many great Indian teams that have toured down under but none of them could conquer the land. But come the 2018/19, a young Indian team led by a charismatic Virat Kohli created history by finally waving the tricolor in Australia.
Before the tour started, the visitors were being deemed as the favorites. It was mostly due to the absence of the banned duo of Steve Smith and David Warner. India indeed began on a winning note in Adelaide. It was a hard-fought Test that which went in India’s favor. Cheteshwar Pujara was brilliant who scripted the win with a century.
But the hosts made a great comeback in Perth. They won comprehensively and showed that the Aussie spirit wasn’t down and out. Virat Kohli’s marvelous century went in vain. Then arrived the Boxing Day Test at the MCG. Team India once again came out all guns blazing. Pujara scored another magnificent hundred that led to an Indian victory.
Having already retained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the visitors went into the final Test in Sydney. Batting first, the Indian unit put in a daunting performance. Pujara scored his 3rd century of the series and Rishabh Pant too made a ton. India piled on to a mammoth 622/7. The bowlers then restricted the opposition to 300 in the first innings.
Kohli enforced the follow-on but the rain gods didn’t allow any further play on the last day. India could have won 3-1 but they would happily take 2-1. All and all, it was a satisfying performance. But a huge shout goes out to the bowlers. Especially Jasprit Bumrah was outstanding who took 21 wickets. The other bowlers like Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin and Kuldeep Yadav also contributed big time.
Here are the best tweets to celebrate the first Test series win for India down under
Congratulations to @imVkohli and his team for reaching one of Indian cricket’s final frontiers and winning a test series in Australia for the first time. Gritty batting, marvellous fast bowling and a fine team effort has done us proud. Let’s make a habit of it! #PresidentKovind
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) January 7, 2019
India will be buoyed by the fact that so many contributed to this win. Key innings from Agarwal and Rahane, top spells from Ishant and Shami, each of the three spinners, the growth of Pant, a great century from Kohli…..
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) January 7, 2019
This has to be the biggest achievement in @imVkohli 's captaincy stint so far unless he holds the @cricketworldcup trophy in a few months' time in England.
Well played @cheteshwar1 , so proud of you.#AUSvIND #IndianCricketTeam— Shubham Khare (@shubhamkhare71) January 7, 2019
Excellent reward for old-fashioned test cricket batting for @cheteshwar1 and a break out year for @Jaspritbumrah93. Thought Virat Kohli was much more relaxed than I have ever seen and that bodes well for his captaincy.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) January 7, 2019
https://twitter.com/MitchJohnson398/status/1082132516125982722
Congratulations to @imVkohli & his Indian Team on winning their first ever series in Australia. They outplayed @CAComms in all departments. Very well deserved. #AUSvIND #pinktest https://t.co/UkEJcrzJ3I
— Glenn McGrath (@glennmcgrath11) January 7, 2019
India will join England, West Indies, New Zealand and South Africa to become the fifth visiting side to win a Test series in Australia!#AusvInd#AusvsInd
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) January 7, 2019
A lap of honour in Australia. Indian test cricket is on the verge of bigger things
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) January 7, 2019
https://twitter.com/BCCI/status/1082120460035227648
https://twitter.com/BCCI/status/1082131242080845825
If like me you have been coming to Australia since 1991 with no hope of winning a series, then this is a huge moment. India are now the first Asian team to win a series in Australia. And it feels wonderful to be able to say it.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) January 7, 2019
https://twitter.com/ashokgehlot51/status/1082127662372585472
https://twitter.com/poonam_yadav24/status/1082123548569882624
https://twitter.com/cricketaakash/status/1082121853101993984
In 71 years, India has won two World Cups, one World T20…this is what was eluding us. 2-1. Goosebumps. Loved every bit of it. Proud. Happy. Bundle of joy. #AusvInd #Historic
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) January 7, 2019
https://twitter.com/AnupamPKher/status/1082120617191563265
https://twitter.com/SunRisers/status/1082124398348259329
Indian players winning a Man of the Series award in Tests in Australia:
K Srikkanth, 1985/86
Kapil Dev, 1985/86
Sachin Tendulkar, 1999/00
Rahul Dravid, 2003/04
Cheteshwar Pujara, 2018/19*#AusvsIndia— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) January 7, 2019
Player of the Series: Cheteshwar Pujara!
“When it comes to Test cricket, that is my priority and it will always remain my priority.”#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/BiYq13ZU5f
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) January 7, 2019
For his 521 runs, with three centuries in four Tests, Cheteshwar Pujara is Player of the Series! #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/X6yaWDtwKw
— ICC (@ICC) January 7, 2019
Cheteshwar Pujara is the Player of the Match AND the Player of the Series! #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/Yun0EBOgNc
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 7, 2019
"Batting for me is like meditation" – Cheteshwar Pujara. Yes, indeed!
This series #AusvInd #AusvsInd – 521 runs in 1258 balls, 1868 minutes (31 hours, 8 minutes)— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) January 7, 2019
This is Virat Kohli's fourth away Test series win – the joint most for an Indian captain alongside Sourav Ganguly.#AUSvIND
— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) January 7, 2019
Teams winning a Test series for the first time in Australia,
England – 1882/83
West Indies – 1979/80
New Zealand – 1985/86
South Africa – 2008/09
India – 2018/19*#AUSvIND— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) January 7, 2019
Stay updated with all the cricketing action, follow Cricadiumon Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
