New Delhi: On this day in 2021, India breached Australia’s Gabba fortress to pull off one of their greatest Test victories of all time. Ajinkya Rahane-led India beat Australia by three wickets in a nail-biting thriller to bag their second consecutive Test series victory on Indian soil. Despite being without Virat Kohli and plagued with multiple injury issues, India produced an emphatic display to hand Australia a crushing defeat.
After Mohammed Siraj starred with the ball, the likes of Rishabh Pant, Cheteshwar Pujara and Shubman Gill played terrific knocks to help India chase down the target of 328 runs, the 5th highest successful run chase by any team in a Test match in Australia. Pant was the hero of India’s epic victory as he slammed an unbeaten 89 to get India over the line in a thrilling way.
India headed into the final 5th Test at the Gabba after securing a miraculous draw in the 4th Test to keep the series alive. Australia dominated the proceedings on the opening day of the Test match as Marnus Labuschagne slammed a 108-run knock to help the hosts post 369 runs in their first innings. India responded strongly with 336 runs in their first innings but ended up conceding a slender 33-run lead.
Steve Smith slammed a half-century in the second innings to power Australia to 294 runs in the second innings, helping the hosts set up a target of 328 runs for India in their second innings. India needed to pull off a miraculous run-chase on Day 5 to secure an unlikely victory and etch their name in history.
Gill, Pant, Pujara star in India’s memorable chase
It was a dramatic Day 5 as India rode on a fabulous knock of 91 runs from Gill, a gritty half-century from Pujara and an unbeaten 89 from Pant to do the unthinkable by chasing down the target of 328 runs and hand Australia their first Test defeat at the iconic venue in 32 years.
India got off to a shaky start in their second innings, losing opener Rohit Sharma cheaply on 7 before Gill and Pujara combined to share a 114-run stand for the second wicket to steady the ship for the visitors. Skipper Ajinkya Rahane scored a rapid 24 to take India closer to the target before Pant combined with Washington Sundar (22) and the tail-enders to get India over the line in an epic chase.
With their sensational victory in the Gabba Test, India clinched the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2020-21 2-1 to record their second successive Test series victory in Australia.
On this day Ajinkya Rahane-led India defeated Australia by three wickets in the 5th Test to breach their fortress at the Gabba and clinch a historic Test series victory in 2021. It was India’s second successive Test series victory in Australia. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
