Ajinkya Rahane was an elated captain as Team India defeated Australia by 3 wickets in the fourth Test at the Gabba to clinch the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2-1.
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Chasing 328 to win in the fourth innings, the visitors were 4/0 at stumps on Day 4 and lost opener Rohit Sharma (7) early on the final day. But the 21-year-old Shubman Gill once again displayed his class as he scored 91 to keep the hopes alive.
In the process, Gill also shared a 114-run stand with Cheteshwar Pujara, who played a gritty knock of 56 from 211 deliveries.
After both of them got out, wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant came to the party and smashed 89 not out off 138 balls to take the team over the line.
"It really means a lot to us. I don't know how to describe this victory. I'm just proud of all the boys, each and every individual. We just wanted to give our best, not to think about the result," Rahane said while speaking at the post-match presentation ceremony.
"When I went in, a conversation between me and Pujara was Puji to bat normal and me to go for my shots because we knew Rishabh and Mayank were there. Credit to Pujara, the way he handled the pressure was magnificent, and Rishabh was brilliant in the end," he added.
The stand-in India skipper also explained why the tourists fielded five bowlers in the series decider, including handing Test caps to Washington Sundar and T Natarajan.
"Taking 20 wickets was the key, that's what we identified, that's why we picked five bowlers. Washington Sundar got that balance for us, intention was to play five bowlers," said Rahane.
"Siraj had played two Test matches, Saini one, Thakur one, Natarajan also on debut, all credit to them," he further remarked.
Team India had coped a lot of criticism when they got bowled out for 36 during their 8-wicket loss in the opening Test at Adelaide. Furthermore, regular skipper Virat Kohli left the Australian shores to attend the birth of his first child while a number of players sustained injuries.
However, the visiting team under Rahane’s captaincy bounced back emphatically to register a series-levelling victory at the MCG while they pulled off a famous draw in the third Test at SCG by batting out 131 overs.
"After Adelaide we didn't discuss about what happened, we just wanted to play our game, show a good attitude, show good character on the field," Rahane said.
"It was all about the team effort. I would also like to thank our fans who came out here and supported us, and the Indian team would like to give Nathan Lyon a signed jersey for his 100th Test match," he concluded.
(With ANI inputs)
