It would have been easy for us to get bogged down thinking about Adelaide, but we decided to not do that. We wanted to come in with intent and attitude,” were Indian captain Ajinkya Rahane’s first words after collecting his man of the match award.
Rahane had just orchestrated one of India’s most memorable overseas Test wins, with India pocketing the second game of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy by eight wickets in Melbourne on Tuesday.
Rahane’s India showed both ‘intent’ and ‘attitude’ in abundance. Over four days, the tourists advertised a full-course meal of grit, skill and discipline. The discipline, in particular, enabled even rookie bowlers to suffocate their rivals for long periods by stringing together an endless garland of dots.
Bumrah and Ashwin served fans the starters on Boxing Day, helping India bowl out Australia for 195. Rahane and Jadeja provided the main course with their partnership on Day Two, helping the team take a 131-run lead.
The performance of debutants Mohammed Siraj and Shubman Gill was the icing on the cake as India first bowled out Australia for 200 and then chased down 70 for the loss of Mayank Agarwal and Cheteshwar Pujara.
Rahane’s praise was fulsome for his two newcomers. “Shubman has done well in first-class cricket, showed intent and composure. Siraj bowled with a lot of discipline. Sometimes as debutants, you can get carried away, but guys who play firstclass cricket for four-five years know what to do, it makes a captain’s job easier.”
Captain’s job easy? Anything but. Not when you are down to four bowlers (after Umesh Yadav’s injury) who had already bowled their souls out on a wicket that was getting increasingly flatter and devoid of nip, turn or bounce.
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