Hungry for redemption, India recorded an all-ages victory under inspiring Ajinkya Rahane, beating Australia by eight wickets in the second test to level the four-game series 1-1 in Melbourne on Tuesday. The goal of 70 was never very big, but for a team that was eliminated by their all-time lowest score of 36 just 10 days ago, one can’t blame them if that played in the back of their minds. Shubman Gill (35 not out) and skipper Rahane (27 not out) knocked down the runs in 15.5 overs to complete the victory. This was after the quartet composed of Jasprit Bumrah (2/54 in 27 overs), newcomer Mohammed Siraj (3/37 in 21.3 overs), Ravichandran Ashwin (2/71 in 37.1 overs) and Ravindra Jadeja (2/28 in 14 overs) displayed manic consistency over a period of over 100 overs on the flatter decks, where the extra bounce became his weapon of choice.
Indian teams, since the turn of the millennium, have had some memorable victories overseas, but when the backdrop and context of this event at the iconic MCG are recorded for posterity, Rahane and his magnificent bowling alley will find more than one. honorable mention in the history pages.
The Indian teams of yesteryear used to lose their stomachs from a good fight after humiliating losses but not this one. Noted for the manner of his return in the absence of a genius named Virat Kohli and a magician in Mohammed Shami.
And then the team was also paralyzed by Umesh Yadav’s calf muscle injury midway through the game, which reduced a five-pointed bowling attack to four men.
But in the last three and a half days, Rahane, first with his hundred and then with solid leadership, showed what Kohli meant when he spoke of ‘New India’.
Along with skills, it was mental toughness that shone through, as the team didn’t take too long to bury Adelaide’s ghosts and clear the cobwebs in their minds, getting Australia to do their best for 195 and 200 in two. tickets.
For someone whose testing ground was questioned for the past 18 months, Rahane was without question the ‘Captain Cool’ in a new avatar, brutalizing the opposition with his tactical acumen and pooling of resources.
Day one, it was all about assessing surface moisture and giving Ashwin a shot ahead of rookie Siraj in the first hour of the game, all while keeping that ravine in business for Steve Smith.
It worked wonderfully well and then he realized pretty quickly that Siraj, with his bowling set on the deck, could do wonders with new or old kookaburra when the seam flattened.
While he was hitting, he was like that conductor, who knew how to conduct his orchestra, be it the young Gill or the experienced Ravindra Jadeja.
Rahane rates her hundred in a winning cause in Lord’s six years as her best effort, but for fans, tickets in Melbourne will always be much more valuable.
On the fourth morning, Rahane, after giving Bumrah a three more spell, instantly understood that the old ball is doing nothing and took him out of attack to keep him fresh for the second new ball. It was another great tactical decision as Bumrah bounced off Cummins to finish the stand that consumed more than 36 overs.
The second new ball did the trick when Cameron Green (45 of 146 balls) and Cummins (22 of 103 balls) were fired after their frustrating 57-run stop for the seventh wicket.
Green’s valiant shot had five limits as he tried to pull Australia out of the woods during a classic test session. It was a well-aimed gorilla aimed between the batter’s jaw and shoulder and Mayank Agarwal took the clumsy defense on the second slip.
Green, who was starting to turn into a thorn in the flesh, tried to pull Siraj but the extra bounce brought him in when Ravindra Jadeja, fielding in the middle of the gate, timed his jump position to perfection ending the vigil. of the batter.
Siraj and Ashwin then cleared the tail by placing a total of 70 for their hitters.
The victory was unquestionable but again it was Rahane, a former 10th Dan Karate black belt, who decided to guide Gill, doing his test cricket apprentice.
The captain first played a perfect Sunil Gvaskar-style forward defensive shot where the ball lands at the batters’ feet like an obedient cocker spaniel.
Promoted
The next ball produced a commanding pull, showing the intention that allowed Gill to flourish in that short amount of time. It was logical that he fought fire with fire during that brief coup and it was a poetic justice that was there until the end.
Kohli will be back in white in about a month and a half when he steps out to the Chepauk leading his band of men, but one will not forget ‘Captain Rahane’ quickly.
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