Rahane, quite fittingly, hits the winning runs, India level the series! This was short, spinning into middle and leg, Rahane pulls it to backward square leg, where there's a misfield. The ghosts of Adelaide buried emphatically.
Australia vs India, 2nd Test at Melbourne, IND in AUS, Dec 26 2020 - Match Result
WATCH: Highlights of India's superlative win on day four and debutant Shubman Gill's stroke-filled 35 not out (Indian subcontinent only)
I'll leave you with Kohli's thoughts. Hope you've enjoyed our coverage. You can catch all the highlights of this Test right here on ESPNcricinfo. There will be post-game reactions, analysis and much else. Also, we're awaiting Cricket Australia's decision on the venue of the third Test. So do stay tuned in for all that. For now, this is Shashank Kishore saying goodbye on behalf of Varun Shetty and Chandan Duroah. Cheers, wish you all a very happy new year. See you in 2021!
Ajinkya Rahane joins Sony for a post-game chat. "Would've been easy for us to get bogged down thinking about Adelaide, but we decided to not do that. Wanted to come in with intent and attitude. Collective effort of individuals was the message. We knew we'd get the results if we did that. Coming in, we wanted to bat first. It was important to bowl with discipline, which we did really well, especially Ashwin who came on in the 10th over and created that pressure. Really impressed with both our debutants. First-class cricket matters a lot, if you play 3-4 years of first-class cricket and India A before coming to the international level, it helps a lot. The way Siraj bowled with discipline and patience was great to see."
Aakash Chopra says: "Shubman is a special player. We are witnessing the early days of India's future batting superstar. Remember his debut. You might have to revisit it a good few times while writing eulogies in 2030. How he started as an opener and then settled down in the middle order for good."
Virat Kohli tweets: "What a win this is, absolutely amazing effort by the whole team. Couldn't be happier for the boys and specially Jinks who led the team to victory amazingly. Onwards and upwards from here."
Missed Cameron Green's enterprising 45? Readers in Australia can watch his innings here .
Ajinkya Rahane is the Man of the Match for his 112 & 27*. "Really proud of all the players, credit to our debutants Gill and Siraj. The way they showed character was amazing, unfortunately we lose Umesh but credit to everyone. The five bowling options worked out really well. We were thinking of one allrounder and Jadeja did really well. Shubman has done well in first-class cricket, showed intent and composure. Siraj bowled with a lot of discipline. Sometimes as debutants, you can get carried away, but guys who play first-class cricket for four-five years know what to do, it makes a captain's job easier. The talk was all about showing attitude, intent and character. One hour took the game away from us in Adelaide, but we still have a lot to learn. Australia applied themselves in the second innings, the last five wickets. Umesh is recovering well, we're excited about Rohit coming back. I spoke to him yesterday and he's really excited about coming back."
Tim Paine: Very disappointed, played poor cricket, sloppy cricket. Let's not take anything away from India, they forced us to make mistakes. They bowled beautifully, we haven't adapted as well as we would've liked. Disappointed as a batting group, two Tests to go, so we'll work hard and come back. Cameron Green has started really well, with more Tests he can blossom into a fantastic cricketer. We will be staying together, there was some potential for a few guys to play in the BBL but with the border closure, we'll probably just stay together and see where we go from here.
Gaurav Sundararaman asks: 36 all out. Losing the toss and fielding in an away Test and losing a bowler. No Kohli, Ishant and Shami. Two debutants. Imagine Aus beating India in India without Smith, Starc and Lyon and Batting last with two debutants. India's greatest overseas Test win?
Former India fast bowler Dodda Ganesh says: "To me, this win is on par with the Perth win of 2007/08."
2.50pm India lost two wickets in a small chase, but they've knocked off these runs quite effortlessly in the end, with Rahane and debutant Gill stamping their authority. This is India's fourth win at MCG, their second in a row as well. Two years ago, Bumrah was India's hero. This time around, it's skipper Rahane, who surely has done enough to earn the Man of the Match award? A polished 27 not out to go with his 112. This is Rahane's third win in as many Tests as captain.
The most pleasing aspect of this win: there have been contributions from most. Siraj and Gill, both debutants, won't forget this game forever. With India a pacer down due to Umesh Yadav's injury, Siraj stepped up to shoulder responsibility admirably in Bumrah's company. Ashwin continues to thrash any perceptions there may have been about his performances overseas, while Jadeja, who replaced Kohli, has left an imprint already. So much to savour for India as they look back on a memorable win.
works this with the spin to square leg again
WATCH: Mayank Agarwal's poor run continues as does Cheteshwar Pujara's (Indian subcontinent only)
steps out, Lyon shortens his length, Rahane whips this straight to Green at square leg
works this to midwicket, looks for a single but is sent back.
right behind the line as he defends this skiddy length delivery
full toss outside off and Rahane caresses this into the gap at extra cover, Hazlewood gives it chase to pull it back in, they'll take three ands the scores are level
keeps a tad low as he rocks back to pull, hit straight to backward square leg
punches this length ball to point
rocks back and cuts to point
flicks this full toss superbly wide of mid-on. So much wrist in that as he fetched it from middle and off
short, pulled from outside off to deep square leg
They haven't taken drinks. There's another change in bowling. Here's Marnus
good stride forward as he defends with soft hands
works it with the spin to deep square
goes right back into the crease and blocks
lunges forward and defends
dropped at long-on by Starc diving to his right. Rahane steps out but doesn't get to the pitch, looks to hit it squarer but it's no more than a chip. Starc did all the hard work in getting to the ball but couldn't hold on
gets well forward and defends
full on off, defended back
imperious! Picks the length early and pulls magnificently in front of square.
right behind the line as he defends this incoming length delivery
Should they get home (no more doubts right?) India would've won four Tests at MCG. the most for them at an away venue
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Melbourne Cricket Ground | |
Toss | Australia, elected to bat first |
Series | |
Season | 2020/21 |
Player Of The Match | |
Series result | 4-match series level 1-1 |
Match number | Test no. 2398 |
Hours of play (local time) | 10.30 start, Lunch 12.30-13.10, Tea 15.10-15.30, Close 17.30 |
Match days | 26,27,28,29 December 2020 - day (5-day match) |
Test debut | |
Umpires | |
TV Umpire | |
Reserve Umpire | |
Match Referee | |
Points | India 30, Australia -4 |