India signed off the long season with a finely-scripted victory over Australia that gave the team a 2-1 series win and cemented the No.1 Test ranking.
The eight–wicket victory at the HPCA Stadium on Tuesday came through K.L. Rahul’s winning stroke with Ajinkya Rahane fittingly monitoring the decisive moments in the middle, not to forget the two key members off the field — Virat Kohli and coach Anil Kumble — marshalling the team to give its best and regain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
The win also brought India a $1 million bonus and the ‘Test Mace’ for finishing as the premier team on the cut off date of April 1.
Early jitters
Resuming at 19 for no loss, India went through some contrived excitement when M. Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara lost their wickets. Vijay nicked Pat Cummins and Pujara ran himself out.
Did Australia sniff a chance? If it did, the idea was smashed by Rahul and Rahane applying themselves to ensure there was no end-of-the-season embarrassment.
The 60-run third-wicket association between Rahul and Rahane was a culmination of a concentrated effort from India. Rahul did not lose his composure and played some exquisite shots while accomplishing his sixth half century of the series.
Rahane, keen to make a mark, came up with a few robust strokes as India cantered to the target, needing a mere 17.5 overs to knock off the 87 runs needed for the win on the fourth day.
Australia’s chances best lay in making quick dents. It did but not to the extent to make the home team falter.
The poor second innings show on the third day had left Australia stunned and praying for a miracle.
Skipper Steve Smith lacked the firepower in his attack and only watched the disintegration from first slip, his dreams of beating India in India going up in smoke with every boundary that Rahul and Rahane cracked.
Aggressive Rahane
What stood out was a refreshing charge by Rahane as he played some astounding strokes off Cummins. He pulled him over square leg and then made room to smack him over cover, the two sixes driving home India’s dominance over an opposition that had begun the series on a sterling note by winning with a whopping 333-run margin at Pune.
The 32-run first innings lead was the impetus on which the victory march was built and some incisive bowling on the third day saw India flatten any hopes that Australia may have nurtured.
The scorching spell from Umesh Yadav and crafty stuff from R. Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja paved the way for India to win its 10th Test of the home season — beating New Zealand 3-0, England 4-0, Australia 2-1 apart from the one-off Test victory over Bangladesh. The two draws came against England and Australia.
