Maiden Test series win in Australia
India had never won a Test series in Australia and since 2000-01, and managed just two wins against the Kangaroos with one coming in 2003 and another in 2008. In 2011-12, India lost all the four Tests, while in 2014-15, India lost the series by 2-0.
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This time around, Virat Kohli came to Australia with an Indian side featuring some of the best fast bowlers, while Australia was missing David Warner and Steve Smith due to their bans over the sandpaper gate. India started off well by winning the Adelaide Test by 31 runs, in which Pujara scored a brilliant ton, while Bumrah and Shami starred with the ball.
Australia pulled one back in Perth despite Shami picking 6/56 in second innings as Nathan Lyon picked 8 wickets in the match. India dominated in the third Test at Melbourne, as Pujara scored another ton, while Mayank Agarwal made a brilliant fifty on debut. Pat Cummins tried valiantly, picking 9 wickets in the match. But Bumrah matched him with 9 wickets of his own and India won by 137 runs and retained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in the process going 2-1 up in the series.
The last Test at the SCG was drawn but had it not rained, India would have crushed Australia, after Pujara’s 193 and Pant’s 159* took India to 622/7d. Australia made 300, with Kuldeep picking 5 wickets and were looking in trouble, but the last day was washed out and history was created as Virat Kohli became the first Indian captain to win a Test series down under.
