With fickle weather predicted for Brisbane and a cracked-up Day 5 pitch on offer, conventional wisdom suggested that either a draw or a defeat were the only two possible scenarios for Team India. 324 runs from 98 overs in the final day’s play at the Gabba looked like a mountain to climb. Instead, they seized the momentum at crucial junctures to pull off an improbable win on an emotionally-charged, roller-coaster day.
Here are the snapshots:
Shubman Gill cuts loose: Rohit Sharma departs for 7, but Gill and a defiant Cheteshwar Pujara take India to lunch at 83/1. Barely 30 minutes into the post-lunch session, Mitchell Starc would begin unleashing a barrage of short-pitched deliveries to Gill. The youngster would respond with a delectable upper-cut, a brace of pulls shots and another uppercut, before dispatching him for a six with another disdainful pull. Starc leaks 20 runs in an over.
Gill goes long – and sends the ball over the rope and down the race!
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 19, 2021
Rishabh Pant gets a reprieve: The wicket-keeper batsman walks in at No.5 ahead of Mayank Agarwal at the fall of captain Ajinkya Rahane’s wicket. It ignites hopes amongst fans. Can he conjure another whirlwind knock like the 97 he scored in Sydney on Day 5? Pant moves to 16 off 40 deliveries, before he gets beaten by Lyon. But Tim Paine misses a stumping. India still 135 runs adrift.
Pant can't resist! And Lyon can't believe it.
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 19, 2021
Pant-Pujara alliance blossoms: Pant skips down the track to deposit off-spinner Nathan Lyon over the long-on fence for a six. In the subsequent over, he unleashes a ferocious cut against Starc. Pujara brings up his fifty with a boundary against Marnus Labuschagne. India on the ascendancy in the final session.
Determined. 50. Pujara. #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/x9uSMjRGQb
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 19, 2021
Washington Sundar plays his part: With India needing 49 runs from 42 balls, Washington Sundar (22 off 29) swivels and unfurls a wondrous hook shot against Cummins that sails over the square-leg fence for a six. Pant, at the other end, collects consecutive boundaries against Lyon — a scoop, followed by a powerful sweep shot against Lyon. India race past 300.
Wow. Washington clears the fence! https://t.co/qvYTMSiZsl #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/8FveulGbSJ
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 19, 2021
The winning blow: Pant is unbeaten on 80 and is looking imperious. With 10 runs required, the wicket-keeper batsman pulls Hazlewood past fine-leg for a boundary. The winning moment arrives in the final ball of the 97th over, when Pant drives Hazlewood to the long-off boundary. He stays unbeaten on 89. India win the series 2-1. Fortress Gabba is breached.
Test cricket at its best.
Our camera was there to capture all the emotion as India pulled off a victory for the ages at the Gabba #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/V3QchmOklA
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 19, 2021