India were under huge pressure in the Boxing Day Test of 2020 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. A few days earlier, they had been blown away for 36 which resulted in a humiliating defeat at the Adelaide Oval.
Virat Kohli had flown back home for the birth of his daughter while Mohammed Shami was ruled out with a broken arm. It was left to Ajinkya Rahane to take over as captain and prove to Australian experts that the team was more than capable of putting up a fight.
By December 29 of 2020, India were celebrating one of their most iconic Test wins overseas. Rahane had led from the front with a hundred while debutants Shubman Gill and Mohammed Siraj, made massive contributions too. While Siraj finished with 5 wickets in the match, Gill scored 45 in the first innings and remained not out on 35 in an unbroken partnership in the second innings with Rahane as India secured an 8-wicket victory.
It was a historic achievement. Several former Australian captains thought India would be handed a 4-0 whitewash. They were of course still reeling from the shock defeat in a Test series in their own shores two years before that. Virat Kohli, on the tour of 2018-19, had become the first Asian captain to win a Test series in Australia. Could history be reapeated?
India were brilliant in Melbourne 3 years ago.
Jasprit Bumrah starred with a four-wicket haul as Australia were bowled out for 195 in the first innings. India responded with 326 and then bowled the Aussies out for 200 before chasing down 70 to complete a memorable victory inside four days. Rarely had any Australian team been dominated like that in their own den.
That victory set the tone for another historic series triumph for India in Australia. While India battled hard to save the New Year Test, Rishabh Pant played a blinder to breach the Australian fortress in Brisbane to clinch India’s second successive series win in Australia.
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