Border-Gavaskar Trophy is the battle between two giants, INDIA and AUSTRALIA. The test series is not just a 4-match series, it’s about pride, superiority and determining the best among the two nations. Even before the series started, the Australian media and their former legends made a statement that we can't win here again, we don’t have a chance to compete with the current Aussies line-up where there was the return of Smith and Warner & talk of the town, the in-form Marnus Labuschagne. We already defeated Australia on their home turf but they made stories like absence of their star batters etc. But we didn’t care about anything, we were ready to conquer again.
First test was the pink ball test in Adelaide and Australia is a team which is unbeatable with the pink ball. The second ball of the game proved that we were in trouble. Mitchell Starc uprooted the stumps of Prithvi Shaw and kicked off the series with a fiery pace. We took the lead in the first innings but we failed to capitalise and this test was the most horrific performance by India. The mega collapse of 36 all out in the second innings dented the team and the fans back in India and nobody couldn’t believe what had happened. The team which dominated last tour in Australia is all-out on 36 in the second innings. The nightmare didn’t end, the media were all on us, they trolled us, they made fun of us, their talks before the series is coming true and they were happy of course. The massive shame on this Indian side was unbelievable. Virat Kohli left the team after this humiliation innings due to personal commitments and rubbing salt to the wound, Mohammed Shami got injured.
The second test in Melbourne was the time where we had to gather ourselves and fight for what we faced as the series wasn’t over yet. Vice-captain Rahane was ready to lead this team for the remaining games in the absence of regular skipper. He took this team to the ground with much confidence and set an example of the comeback after humiliation. The match-winning hundred by him was what India needed. We played their pace with guts and won the Melbourne test and levelled the series by 1-1.
Third test Sydney botched us even more as we lost a few players for injury and lead spinner Ashwin had a back problem but were in 1-1. We were almost outplayed and the game was almost slipping from our hands, but Vihari and Ashwin pulled back things to draw the match. They were not in a position to play but were not ready to give up. They played till the end and drew the match, saved the series and the decider of this series was finalised in the game at Brisbane.
The Gabba Test at Brisbane, being the last test of this series, had a history of Australia never losing in the last 32 years. It was a must win for both teams where India was looking for retaining the Border-Gavaskar trophy and on the other hand, Australia eyeing for victory after their grand victory in Adelaide. India was injury stricken by the below:
Kohli out due to personal commitments.
Shami suffering a blow to his forearm in the Adelaide Test.
Umesh having a calf injury midway during the Melbourne Test.
Jadeja dislocating his thumb after a bouncer by Starc in Sydney.
Vihari having a hamstring injury during the Sydney Test.
Bumrah having an abdominal strain after the Sydney test.
Ashwin with a back injury during the Sydney Test.
KL Rahul (wrist injury ) and Ishant (abdominal strain) both were injured before the test series.
So, almost half of our players were injured and we were left with our net bowlers. Natrajan was included in the squad as backup and made his debut for India along with Washington Sundar. Shardul who played only 1 match till that date, was included after he got injured in the Windies tour earlier he toured.
We were playing with the B team and B stands for Brave team.
The Brisbane test started and we were ready to die for each other. Siraj, who made his debut 2 tests back, was leading our bowling unit and we took Aussies down. Fifer by Siraj and 50s by Sundar and Shardul was the big momentum shift for us. At day 5, we had to chase 328 for victory. Rohit and Gill began this chase. Gill smashed the Aussies all over the ground while Pujara held the innings from another end. After gill got out, Rishabh Pant and Sundar took the charge and started firing the Aussies bowlers. They had no response to our attacks. The 11 were not playing there, the whole country was backing the Indian team there in the ground. The moment came, 3 runs for the victory, Hazelwood was bowling to Pant and he smashed the ball for four and registered the historic win at the Gabba and India breached the Australian fortress which was held for almost three decades.
They made fun of us after 36 all out, we made a come back and reminded them who we are, we can beat any team on our day.
The victory after 36 all out was everything, we had no chance from their but we chased down the target on day 5 and made history.
The commentary by Vivek Razdan is the emotion of all Indian fans "Toota hai Gabba ka Ghamand, jeet gayi hai mukabla Bharat, border -Gavaskar trophy jayegi Gavaskar me desh"
