India managed to pull off a fantastic 31-run win over Australia, registering their first victory in a Test Down Under in 10 years. Ravichandran Ashwin, who took three wickets in the final innings, hit the final nail in Australia's coffin to end the hosts' admirable rearguard action. Also crucial to India's cause were pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami, picking three wickets each while Ishant Sharma chipped in with one. This is the visitors' first victory in Adelaide since 2003. Also, the last time India defeated Australia at home was in 2008, in Perth.
Australia's tail put up a good fight on the final day of the Test, almost pulling off the impossible, however, India seemed to peg away to finally clinch a much-deserved win. Pat Cummins (28), Mitchell Starc (28) and Nathan Lyon (38 not out) made valuable contributions with the bat to frustrate Virat Kohli's team but fell agonisingly short after Josh Hazlewood (13) was caught at second slip by KL Rahul off the bowling of Ashwin. Shaun Marsh, who was 31 not out at stumps on Day 4, scored his 10th Test half-century but fell for 60 to a brilliant Jasprit Bumrah. Tim Paine also showed some fight on the final day but Bumrah was again at hand to dismiss the Australian captain for 41 and put India on the brink.
Starc and Cummins added 41 runs for eighth wicket giving the hosts a glimmer of hope. While Mohammed Shami broke the partnership to give India the crucial breakthrough but then Lyon and Cummins began to frustrate the Indians. The Australian pair added another 31 runs to put Australia within touching distance of the target. Their reign ended when Bumrah got Cummins to edge a delivery to Virat Kohli at slips. With India needing just one wicket to win, Australia's No.11 Hazlewood walked in and batted bravely for 43 balls. Lyon and Hazlewood strung together a 32-run stand for the final wicket as Australia started dreaming of an unlikely victory.
However, Ashwin dashed the home side's hopes with a flighted delivery finding the edge of Hazlewood's bat. Indian wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant made history by matching the record 11 catches in a Test currently held by England's Jack Russell and South Africa's AB de Villiers. He also beat the record 10 catches in a game by an Indian that was previously held by Wriddhiman Saha. It was a huge breakthrough for Virat Kohli's men, with Australia always proving a tough hunting ground. Australia resumed the final day needing another 219 for victory with four wickets down, but lost their last two specialist batsmen before lunch, shifting the odds heavily in India's favour.
Marsh and Travis Head had started cautiously, grinding out 11 runs in the opening seven overs before seamer Ishant Sharma struck with the score on 115, bowling a bouncer that caught Head's bat as he tried to fend it off and Ajinkya Rahane took the catch at gully. Paine joined Marsh and they upped the ante, capitalising on some loose balls from Shami to chip away steadily and close the gap. By lunch Australia had fought to 186 for 6, still needing a further 137 runs for victory, with Paine not out 40 and Pat Cummins on five. But in the second over after they resumed Paine top edged a pull shot from Bumrah and Pant easily took a catch.
Cheteshwar Pujara returns to top-five
Cheteshwar Pujara's knock of 123 and 71 runs in the first Test against Australia has placed him on fourth spot in the latest ICC Test Rankings for batsmen. He has now moved ahead of England's Joe Root and Australia's suspended David Warner, trailing third-ranked Australia's Steve Smith by 55 points. Born into the Lohana community in Rajkot, Gujarat, Pujara's father Arvind Pujara was a Ranji Trophy player for Saurashtra.
Following the win, he thanked Arvind, who had been his childhood coach as well, for consistent support and said his father would be proud of his efforts. Lately criticised and dropped over scoring-rate issues in the past, Pujara showcased his worth as he single-handedly led India's fightback after a top-order collapse on the opening day of the first Test.
“It [father's support] means a lot. He [Arvind] is someone who started coaching me when I was eight years old. I'd like to thank him for all his support throughout my career. He will be a proud father at this stage. He believed in my ability more than I do,” Pujara said after bagging the Man of the Match award.
