Having secured a famous draw in Sydney, Team India have kept the Border-Gavaskar Trophy levelled at 1-1 going into the fourth Test, starting January 15 in Brisbane.
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Ahead of the highly-anticipated game, former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar has said that if the visitors go on to win the Gabba Test then it will be their greatest Test series triumph ever and possibly one of the best Test series wins in the history of the game.
“Now at the final stages (of the series), I think India have got it in them to win this series. Again, a last little push, where they will face issues, they have several injury concerns, but the Indian bench strength has to believe that they can do it, they need to give one last effort and they can win the series.
“If from this point onwards, India goes on to win this series, then that will be a big big victory. According to me, it will be the biggest series win in Test history.
“Again, if India win this, and I think that they are going to win it, then this will be one of the finest Test series that India could have ever played or could play in the next week or so.
“I think all credit goes to India because they have shown a lot of guts, a lot of guts. The whole team, spinner, tailenders, fast bowlers, Bumrah has put in all his energy, even got himself injured, but did not let the series slip away,” Akhtar said in a video posted on his Youtube channel.
Team India batted out 131 overs in the second innings to pull off a historic draw in the third Test at SCG.
While chasing 407 in the fourth innings, India had 8 wickets in hand when they came out to bat on Day 5. Despite losing skipper Ajinkya Rahane early, the visitors continued their fight as the duo of Cheteshwar Pujara (77 off 205 balls) Rishabh Pant (97 off 118 balls) shared a 148-run stand for the fourth wicket.
Although India lost both of them in the second session, Hanuma Vihari (23* off 161 balls) and Ravichandran Ashwin (39* off 128 balls) showed immense grit and determination to deny Australia a likely victory. The pair was battling injuries but still lasted 258 balls before both sides decided to shake hands.
