Batting legend Sunil Gavaskar on Tuesday (January 19) lauded the Indian cricket team after they beat Australia by 3 wickets in Brisbane to clinch the four-Test series 2-1.
India were chasing 328 in the fourth innings at the Gabba. It took the visitors Shubman Gill's 91-run knock, followed by Cheteshwar Pujara's 211-ball 56 and Rishabh Pant's unbeaten 89 runs to get over the line.
See Also: “Fact is India A played this Test and still managed to win it,” says Ponting
Gavaskar showered rich praise on the young team, saying it is a magical moment for Indian cricket.
"Absolutely, this is a magic, magical moment for Indian cricket. They were not prepared to just save the game. They were wanting to go out and finish the tour in a blaze of glory. Young India has done it," Gavaskar told Sony Ten 3 after the match.
"Young India has shown the way. Young India is showing that they are not afraid. What a win, what a magnificent win."
It was a remarkable effort from Team India considering the fact that they were bowled out for 36 in the first Test at the Adelaide Oval.
Despite the unavailability of regular skipper Virat Kohli due to paternity leave and injury to many star players, the tourists under Ajinkya Rahane’s leadership bounced back emphatically to register a series-levelling eight-wicket victory at the MCG while they pulled off a famous draw in the third Test at SCG by batting out 131 overs.
Gavaskar was effusive in his praise for the entire unit for their lion-heart effort.
"It starts with Shubman Gill playing such a wonderful innings this morning. Then the old war horse Cheteshwar Pujara made sure that there were no inroads made by the Australians in that middle session.
"And then Rishabh Pant coming in, once again promoted up the order at No.5 by this managing to Rahane, who has an unbeaten record now. Two out of the three Test matches here he has captained he has won.
"And before that he has captained India twice, he has won both those Test matches. Natarajan making his debut, what a debut it has been. Prithvi also. But what a tour, what a win," he said.
Seeing the performances of young guns in the fourth Test, Gavaskar is certain that the future of Indian cricket is in safe hands.
"This series win is even more magnificent because this time Australia had their full-strength team. The ball was turning on the fifth day. Yesterday also some balls kicked off, some kept low when Australia were batting. So to score on that pitch, and with such ease, the last two-three wickets fell while trying to bring the target down," Gavaskar said.
"It felt really nice because this young Indian team has shown something different. In this win, to whom will you give credit? Mohammed Siraj took five wickets, Washington Sundar took three, Natarajan three. Then the way Washington Sundar and Shardul Thakur batted. Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, the way they batted. After seeing all this, and they are all young players, I think the future of the Indian cricket is so bright that we can have great anticipation for every upcoming series," he concluded.
(With PTI inputs)
