As my friend @ivan_avr asked Why #IND's win over #AUS at #Gabba is so special, here are few points through the tournament I would tell him & the non-cricket followers.

The problems started with the Squad:

Players who missed the initially squad-
* Rohit Sharma - IND's 50 overs & T20I monster. Had 2*100s & a 200 in the series vs SA (before last series) in Oct 2019.
* Ishanth Sharma - IND's lead pacer in Tests. Claimed 11 wkts in last AUS tour
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First Test:

IND won toss, choose to BAT

Second ball of the match - Prithvi Shaw bowled for 0 by Starc! - Got dismissed in the same way in 2nd Inns.

That's an unpleasant start for any team!

IND managed 244 and restricted AUS for 191 in their 1st Inns - A nice way going thru,
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In the 2nd Inns, IND got out for 36. JUST 36!! IND's lowest score in Test History.

AUS won by 8 wkts.

Mohammed Shami got injured - Misses next match

Virat Kohli goes home for birth of his baby - misses the next 3 mts. Rahane who has captained 2 mts, takes over the captaincy
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2nd Test:

2 New players for IND - Siraj & Shubman Gill

AUS won toss - Bat first - 195/10
Debutant Siraj gets 2 crucial Wkts

IND 1st Inns - 326/10 - Captain Rahane - 112, Jadeja - 57, Gill - 45

AUS 2nd Inns - 200/10. Siraj another 3 wkts

IND won by 8 wkts. Gill 35*

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Another key bowler Umesh Yadav injured.
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3rd Test:

Debutants - IND: Navdeep Saini, AUS: Will Pucovski

Rohit returns for injured Mayank Agarwal

AUS won toss Bat 1st - 338/10

Pucovski 62 & Smith 131

Saini picked 2 wkts

IND 1st Inns 244/10

Gill - 50, Pujara - 50(176), Pant - 36

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AUS 2nd Inns - 312/6 dec.

Smith 81, Labuschagne 73, Green 84

IND Target - 407 (from ~135 Overs). A very difficult target since going for win with big target losses the match. IND played for a draw

Rohit - 52, Gill - 31, Pujara - 77(205), Pant - 97(118) - deserved a 100!

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Then comes the heroes (savers)

Hanuma Vihari, who would have lost his place in the next test plays a classic test knock - 23*(161)
Ashwin - whose batting skills are almost forgotten by many & sometimes overshadowed by Jadeja, scored 39 off 128 to save the test.

The fact is
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Vihari was hit on body many times, he used his bat as a support to climb the steps to the dressing room
Pant's elbow was injured the previous day
Ashwin had a serious back pain the past day

They saved the Test!
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4th Test At The Gabba - Brisbane Cricket Ground - AUS was last defeated at Gabba in 1988. since then, AUS had never lost a test at Gabba - 32 Years - 31 Tests - NO LOSS!!

Ashwin, Vihari, Jadeja & Bumrah injured

Debuts: Natarajan, Washington Sundar

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Shardul Thakur comes in with 1 test experience

Mayank Agarwal replaces injured Vihari

AUS's bowling attack had an Wickets tally of 1013 against IND's 13. Yes, Just 13!!

AUS Bat 1st - 369/10 - Labuschagne 108

Debutants - Nataraja & Sundar claimed 3 wkts each & Thakur claimed 3

Again, the inexperienced guys saved the match

IND 1st Inns - 336/10

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Shardul Thakur 67(115) & Washington Sundar 62(144) - From 186/6 to 309/7.

Both the players don't have much International level experience. But they faced and outscored the opponents.

AUS were bowled out for 294 in 2nd inns. Siraj claimed 5 wkts

IND Target - 328

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The highest successful run chase at Gabba was 236 - AUS vs WI, 1951
The highest runs scored for a draw at Gabba was 278 followed by 274.

Another mountain ahead of a win! Even if the match was drawn, IND retain the trophy.

IND played for the win - Gill 91, Pujara 56(211)

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Rahane 24, Sundar 22 & the match HERO - PANT 89*(138)

IND won the match by 3 wkts with ~3 overs to spare.

Pujara had faced 928 balls & scored 271. He was beaten on body on 11 instances - only in the last test. He had spent approx. 20 hours at the crease!

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Pant, who was always criticized for his not up-to-the-mark Keeping skills & his method of getting out, played 2 gem of an innings - One to save the match and other to win the match.

For every match, One player gets injured & misses out - Another player comes in -

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..a debutant or an inexperienced player - plays sensible cricket - becomes a match winner!

Gill - 259 runs at 51.8 - More than the numbers, the way he batted had inspired many. He played with some intent!
Pant - 274 runs at 68.5 - Turned all odds against him

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Pujara - 271 runs at 33.87 - The number of balls he faced, the quality of defence he had... saved the Team in all occasions
Rahane - 268 runs at 38.28 - The only centurion for IND & the winning captain

They are the only players who played all 4 tests for IND
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Siraj - 13 Wkts at 29.53 - Lost his father between the tour - Got emotional at the National Anthem - From net bowler to the Opening bowler & the leader at the Gabba
Jadeja - 85 runs in 2 inns & 7 wkts in 3 inns

A number of match winners!!

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The last time IND toured AUS - 2018/19 - IND won 2-1.

IND were a full strength Team & AUS were without their 2 key players - Smith & Warner

But, this time - AUS were a more stable team with complete strength

To be honest - IND only played their 2nd XI!

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In 3rd & 4th Tests, almost half the team were inexperienced! Even in losing conditions, players were determined, played with injuries, played with intent to save the 3rd & win the 4th!

Gabba - AUS fortress had been destroyed!

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Even then, PAT CUMMINS bagged the Player of the Tournament award.

21 Wickets at 20.04! i.e. a wicket for every 20 runs he concede!

162.1 Overs & 51 maidens

And Zero 5-fers - no issues!

He had been brilliant in line & lenght!! https://twitter.com/cricvizanalyst/status/1350284241561657344?s=24

This win proves that IND can win matches anywhere, even without major contributors!

This team had produced more runs, more wickets, more wins, more memories & more emotions!

This team and this series is Very special and gonna be remembered forever!!

Wish this is documented..
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.. like Fire in the Babylon, The Test.. going thru the emotions..

#AUSvIND #AUS #IND #SydneyTest #BrisbaneTest #TheGabba #Gabba #Fortress #FortressBreached #ShubmanGill #RishabPant #CheteshwarPujara #HanumaVihari #AjinkyaRahane #CaptainRahane #BoxingDayTest #PatCummins #Bhavani