India defeated Australia
by 6 wickets in the Mohali Test today clinching the Series 3-0 and regaining
the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after they lost it 0-4 in Australia. They have indeed created
history by the effort. Never before in Test cricket history against Australia have India won more than two Tests in a
series and never with a zero margin. Now they have a very good chance of making
it 4-0, an exact revenge delivered, in Delhi
where the last Test starts from 22nd March, 2013. India also never won three Tests in a series
since 1993-94 when they swept Sri
Lanka under the leadership of Mohammad
Azharuddin. For Australia
they have never lost three Tests in a series since 1988-89 under the leadership
of Alan Border. The most positive aspect of the Mohali Test of swinging
fortunes is that the match had a nail biting finish in the last moments of the
last day converting it into a one-day thriller.
Aussie captain
Michael Clarke did come in at No. 6 to bat, but he never looked at ease due to
his troubling back falling yet again to the guiles of more spinner than an
all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja. At 179 for 9 it looked to be all over for Australia with India chasing a very gettable
target. But the near centurion of the first innings Mitchell Starc (35) with
the robust company offered by Xavier Doherty (18 not out) decided to fight off
an Indian victory at all costs struggling for more than 18 overs for 44 runs.
Time was running out for India
and the total threatened to get bigger and bigger. When Australia folded up finally for 223 runs India had a
target of 133 to win in possible 40 overs. On the last day pitch of a Test it
was never easy and the Australian bowling attack made India huff for every run, but the absence of
Shane Watson and James Pattinson came handy for India though they were also without
the man of the match Shikhar Dhawan who got a hand injury while fielding. Australians
in the final analysis must blame themselves for a consistent poor show and not
being able to at least save this match.
Cheteshwar
Pujara who opened in place of Dhawan and Murli Vijay progressed comfortably,
but with the fall of regular wickets pressure started building up and Tendulkar
succumbed to it by falling run out. It was nearly getting to a run-a-ball suspense
when a few lusty hits by captain Dhoni and Jadeja saw Team India through
to a historic win. More positively all the Indian batsmen contributed this time
for the win.
The Indian spinners
held sway on the last day with Jadeja getting three scalps while Ravichandran
Ashwin and Pragyan Ojha got two each. Pacer Bhuvaneshwar Kumar did the real
damage yesterday by mopping off three top order batsmen. The Scorecard:
Mohali Test will
be remembered for its ups and downs, a real tight finish and glorious batting
by Dhawan and Vijay. Cricket Australia
will have a real dilemma of team selection for the Delhi Test with an unfit
captain and a possible return of vice-captain Shane Watson. For the Indian fans
it’s time to celebrate.
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