Exactly a month back, on that fateful Saturday, 19th Dec, India suffered a humiliation with the score reading 36 all out (9 in fact with Shami injured). I restarted my mobile to see if the score was true. Pink ball had us all red faced.
Today, watching Pant hit those winning runs is an unbelievable feeling. India has come a long way in terms of playing in Australia.
My first memories of watching cricket played in Australia was the Benson and Hedges World Series in 1985. The white ball, coloured clothing and getting up at 5 in the morning to watch the matches was a thrill.
India won that series famously, but never was a reckoning force in Australia in the years to come. India’s famed batting failed in the 1990-91 Test and One day series. ‘Adhe Raaga Adhe Haadu’ was the famous caption on the Kannada newspaper, which meant ‘same tune same song’ describing the repeated batting failures on that tour.
Sachin’s century at Perth, Kapil Dev’s 400thwicket, Ravi Shastri’s double hundred, a tied One-day match against West Indies were some consolations.
1999-2000 series was a disaster. Lele, a BCCI official had infamously predicted India to lose 3-0 in the test series and the team had obliged.
2003 was heart-warming. Dravid’s stunning batting display sealed us a historic win at Adelaide and with little luck we could have won at Sydney as well. Still a series win was a distant dream.
2008 offered a last chance to win a test series in Australia with the fabulous 5 around. Perth win was historic, but series win eluded. Winning the One-day series was a solace. 2011 was yet another disaster. 2014 was memorable only because of Virat Kohli.
India finally won the series in 2018, but today’s win is going be more memorable. Literally it was ‘India A’ team that battled and won. From 36 all out to 2-1 series win is no small achievement.
Melbourne was a sweet victory; Sydney’s draw was sweeter, and this Brisbane win will be the sweetest.
Was tired watching India snatch defeat over defeats from the jaws of victory and draws for decades.
This win is special. Congrats team India.
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