India gave wings to their ferocious ambition of winning a maiden series Down Under, beating Australia by 31 runs in the opening Test with an irresistible fusion of self-belief, hunger and talent here on Monday.
Chasing 323, the hosts were bowled out for 291 in 119.5 overs shortly before tea on day five with Ravichandran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami taking three wickets each for a 1-0 lead in the four-match series.
Rishabh Pant finished with 11 catches, and equalled the record for most dismissals in a Test by a wicketkeeper, sharing it with England’s Jack Russell and South Africa’s AB de Villiers.
Things went too close for comfort for India as Nathan Lyon (38 not out) and Josh Hazlewood (13) put on 42 runs for the last wicket and frustrated the Indian bowling. The sparse crowd at Adelaide Oval cheered every single as the duo edged closer and the odd boundary didn’t help matters.
Finally, things came to a close as Ashwin had Hazlewood caught at second slip in the 120th over to register India’s sixth Test win on Australian soil.
“It’s important to stay calm. The odds were stacked up against them as soon as we got Pat Cummins out. I wouldn’t say I was cool as ice but you try not to show it,” Kohli said at the end of the match.
Post lunch, India had a big early breakthrough when Australian skipper Tim Paine (41) played an uncharacteristic pull shot off Bumrah and only managed to loop it up for Pant to take an easy catch.
The visitors then were bothered by two lower-order stands. First, Mitchell Starc (28) and Pat Cummins (28) put on 41 runs for the eighth wicket and carried Australia past 200 in the 89th over.
While Shami broke through that partnership, things didn’t ease out. Pant could have had 12 dismissals but he dropped Lyon in the 105th over off Bumrah.
Four overs later, Kohli didn’t make any mistake at first slip as he helped dismiss Cummins, albeit he was frustrated with his 31-run stand with Lyon.
In the morning session, India removed Travis Head (14) and Shaun Marsh (60) as Australia reached 186 for six at lunch.
Starting from overnight 104 for four, the Head-Marsh partnership lasted only 7.4 overs before India forced a breakthrough with the old Kookaburra ball.
Head was the first to go, with Ishant Sharma (1-48) bowling a sharp bouncer that followed the batsman and left him no room. The ball looped up to gully where Ajinkya Rahane made no mistake.
T 2031 - YYEEEEEEAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH !! INDIA BEATS AUSTRALIA IN TEST .. Congratulations India .. this is historic .. well played .. so proud and happy for the team .. 🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳👏👏👏👏🌹🌹🌹🌹
— Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) December 10, 2018
Congratulations team! What a fantastic start to the series. Our bowlers did great and superb innings by @cheteshwar1 and @ajinkyarahane88 @bcci Way to go! #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/9XxqLn2Z6t
— Shikhar Dhawan (@SDhawan25) December 10, 2018
When you're happy and you know it, clap your hands 👏👏#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/A7dnju8Heg
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 10, 2018
It's been a great first match at the Adelaide Oval! Thank you so much for your wishes. Really delighted with the way we played as team and put up a great fight! On to the next one now! #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/xIEe8shsBO
— cheteshwar pujara (@cheteshwar1) December 10, 2018
What a way to start the series!#TeamIndia never released the pressure. Superb batting by @cheteshwar1 with crucial knocks in both innings, @ajinkyarahane88 in the 2nd innings and excellent contributions by our 4 bowlers. This has brought back memories of 2003. #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/4gmviaKeCC
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) December 10, 2018
It always seems impossible until it's done! 🦁
— Jasprit bumrah (@Jaspritbumrah93) December 10, 2018
What a great victory to hold on to! 🇮🇳💪#AusVsInd pic.twitter.com/DZJcZlz6ux
History repeats itself!
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 10, 2018
In the 2003 Adelaide Test, No. 3 Rahul Dravid won the Player of the Match.
In 2018, No. 3 @cheteshwar1 is named Player of the Match. #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/LOnRQNbXyo
Amazing grit displayed by the Australian lower order, but this is a moment to savour for a long time for Team India. The bowlers gave it everything and let’s just enjoy this and carry the momentum into the Perth Test #AusvInd
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) December 10, 2018
The duo had added 31 runs with the onus now on Marsh and Paine as the last recognised batting pair.
Marsh shouldered the responsibility and scored his first half-century in the fourth innings of a Test off 146 balls. It was his 10th Test half-century overall.
He had looked comfortable at the crease all morning, but Bumrah removed him after the drinks break. The big moment came as the ball moved away just a tad and Marsh gave the slightest of edges to be caught behind in the 73rd over.
It was Pant’s ninth dismissal in the Test, equalling MS Dhoni (9 versus Australia, Melboure, in 2014) as the second-best haul by an Indian wicketkeeper in overseas Tests. He later equalled and went past Wriddhiman Saha’s Indian record for highest dismissals in a Test (10) against South Africa at Cape Town earlier in the year.
Cummins then helped Paine play out 10.5 overs, although he had a couple of hairy moments in the 74th over off Ashwin. India wasted a DRS review when they thought he had edged it.
Four balls later, a loud appeal for caught at short leg was turned down with Cummins reviewing it successfully this time.
India scored 250 in their first innings with Cheteshwar Pujara anchoring with his 16th Test century.
Australia replied with 235 and conceded a 15-run lead. The visitors then finished at 307 in their second innings, including a collapse of five for 25, and set a competitive target on day four.
RAVI SHASTRI TROLLED FOR OBSCENE COMMENT AFTER INDIA'S HISTORIC WIN IN ADELAIDE
India beat Australia by 31 runs in the opening Test to take a 1-0 lead in the four-match series.
Ravi Shastri has found himself on a sticky wicket after being caught making an obscene comment on live television. Following India's historic 31-run win over Australia at the Adelaide Oval on Monday, the 56-year-old Shastri, while speaking to the official broadcast channel, said, "bilkul chhorenge nahi' lekin thori der k liye waha par g*** muh me tha".
Shastri's comment quickly went viral on social media with fans coming in their numbers to troll the India coach.
The video of Shastri's comments soon started doing the rounds on internet with fans mocking the Indian team head coach.
When you propose your crush and she doesnt respond. pic.twitter.com/8wcKXDv2kE
— Desi Gooner (@Sahil_Adhikaari) December 10, 2018
Whoa can you believe Ravi Shastri said ...*"THODI DER KE LIYE WAHAN GOTI MUH MEIN THA"* on the TV interview#IndvAus pic.twitter.com/YeKfaZ2tSl
— Crime_Minister_GoGo (@Darendra_NoDeal) December 10, 2018
LOOOOOOOOL
— Trendulkar (@Trendulkar) December 10, 2018
"Thodi der ke liye goti mooh mein tha!"
- @RaviShastriOfc 🙌 pic.twitter.com/Ko3ByPnE7G
Ravi Shastri is the Man of the Match pic.twitter.com/SdTsrex4EL
— Gabbbar (@GabbbarSingh) December 10, 2018
It is not the first time that Shastri's comments have been questioned and that he has come under criticism. He also came under fire during the series against England this year, when he opined that the current squad is the best travelled Indian Test team.
Meanwhile, Shastri after the match also said that he wants Team India players to ditch the net practice session, and take some rest instead.
"They have to rest up, to hell with the nets. You just come there, mark your attendance and get away to the hotel. We know the Perth track is quick, it's a drop in surface, there will be something there for the fast bowlers."
