Cricket Classics - Part XXXiii : India vs Australia, The Gabba Miracle (2021)
Hello, fellow Sports Enthusiasts,
Cricket is not just a sport between two teams; it's a battle of skills, strategy, and capitalizing on clutch moments. Although the game has transformed over the decades, it has never failed to impress or leave us with unforgettable moments.
So, through this series, I will present some of the most iconic cricket matches that have made fans jump out of their seats. Let's remember those legendary games once a week. I am with another iconic match.
The Border–Gavaskar Trophy is a Test series between Australia and India, named after the legends Allan Border and Sunil Gavaskar. These are top two teams in the Cricket world, and this series can be considered as a tier-1 along with that. It was started in the 1996–97 season, and now there have been 17 test series played. Out of them, India has done better with 10 wins, while Australia has managed only 6 wins and one draw.
The Indian cricket team visited Australia for a complete tournament of four Tests, three ODIs, and three T20I matches, from November 2020 to January 2021. It was just a phenomenal series with everything from classical performance to nail-biting finishes, banters, and high level of adrenaline. Australia managed to win the ODI series, while India clinched both the T20I and Test series.
The fourth and final Test match held at the Gabba is one of the greatest matches ever played. In the first Test, India experienced their most humiliating situation in recent history. They were bowled out for just 36 runs, their lowest team total in Tests. Anyhow, they won the second match, and as the third one was drawn, the decider came to the final match.
Things became so hard for India, as the captain Virat Kohli, and their front-line ballers Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Ravindra Jadeja were also unavailable for this match. And also, Gabba was just like Australia's sweet spot, without a Test match loss since 1988. Ajinkya Rahanae captained the team with Rohit Sharma, Subhman Gill, Pujara, Risabh Pant, Mohammed Siraj, and a few other new ballers. Tim Paine captained the Australian team with their full and deadly squad of David Warner, Marnus Labuschagne, Smith, Matthew Wade, Pat Cummins, Starc, Hazlewood, and Lyon. I think you can understand the level of the two teams.
It was the 15th of January, 2021, at the Gabba Stadium, Brisbane. Australia won the toss and elected to bat. India was straightaway on the front foot with two quick wickets. Anyway, Marnus Labuschagne took the anchor scoring 108 runs, and partnering with the middle order. With good contributions from everyone, they scored 369 for the first inning. Natarajan, Thakur, and Sundar shared 3 wickets each.
The Indian top order tried hard and got starts. But no one could stay for a big inning or pass 50. They lost the first 6 wickets for 186 runs. Anyway, the all-rounder Thakur and Sundar came to the rescue. Against the Aussies' lethal attack, these two added 123 runs for the 7 wicket. Both scored 50+ scores. So, with that effort, India scored 336 runs. Hazlewood took a fifer.
Rain interrupted the match time to time, and in the second inning Aussies added another 294 runs. Siraj took his maiden fifer, while Natarajan took 4 wickets. So, India needed to score 328 runs to win the match on the last day (A few overs were left in day 04). They could have returned the trophy with a draw.
India lost Rohit early. But the new kid, Gill, and the veteran Pujara carried their responsibilities. They had a clear goal. Gill tried to score runs freely, while Pujara stood there like a wall. He just scored 8 runs in his first 90 balls.
- Shubman Gill; 91 off 148 balls, with 8 fours, and 2 sixes.
- Cheteshwar Pujara; 56 off 211 balls
These two get going, but the run rate was too low for a win, and they regularly lost wickets as well. In the final session of around 37 overs, India needed 158 runs more with 7 wickets remaining. Rishabh Pant, who was just 23 years, and a performer in IPL, played one hell of an inning. As you know, he is an orthodox player, yet productive, especially in Test. He counterattacked the quality balling line-up, when it seemed the clear signs of a draw for them.
With the second new ball coming, he scored quick runs against all the ballers. Eventhough a few wickets fell from the other end, he was determined to win. In the final hour of around 15 overs, they need 69 runs. Sundar also helped the chase with some quick blows. So, with a few overs remaining on the last day, Pant crossed the mark with 3 wickets remaining.
- , Rishabh Pant; 89 off 138*,, with 9 fours, and 1 six
So, with that effort, India won the series 2–1, retaining the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. That was not just a win, but we saw the potential of Risabh, Rahane, and the whole Indian team, even rebuilding after a humiliating start.
See you at the next episode!! You can always suggest a match to discuss in the next episode.
src -https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Border%E2%80%93Gavaskar_Trophy#
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_cricket_team_in_Australia_in_2020%E2%80%9321#
ESPNcricinfo
Thank you.
Best Regards!
Upvoted! Thank you for supporting witness @jswit.