India brought down curtains on a long home season with a thumping 8-wicket win over Australia in the fourth Test in Dharamsala. The astounding win also powered India to reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Set a target of 106, the hosts needed less than 24 overs to chase down the total and win the series 2-1. Resuming the day at 19 for no loss, India openers added 27 runs to their overnight score before Pat Cummins inflicted the first blow when he had Vijay caught behind for 8. India then lost another wicket in the same over when Cheteshwar Pujara was run out by Glenn Maxwell as Ajinkya Rahane’s men were reduced to 46 or 2. Another wicket would have put the hosts under immense pressure but stand-in skipper Ajinkya Rahane and Rahul shared an unbeaten stand of 60 runs to take India home. Rahane remained unbeaten at 38 while Rahul notched another Test fifty and scored 51*.
Here is how the cricketing fraternity reacted to India’s comprehensive win:
Indiaaa Indiaaa ??? Indiaaa Indiaaa!!!! #IndVAus pic.twitter.com/legRgX9JSk
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) March 28, 2017
THAT was the knockout punch!!! What a series win. ??CONGRATULATIONS #TeamIndia @BCCI @anilkumble1074 @imVkohli
— Shikhar Dhawan (@SDhawan25) March 28, 2017
Amazing guys @BCCI . One of the sweetest victories ever. A great series and a complete team effort.Just amazing!! @anilkumble1074 @imVkohli
— Robin Aiyuda Uthappa (@robbieuthappa) March 28, 2017
Well done #TeamIndia! Great win. Congratulations on the series win! #IndvAus
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) March 28, 2017
Great character shown by this Indian team especially after losing the first test ?? well deserve series win @BCCI #INDvAUS #TeamIndia
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) March 28, 2017
True champions let their game do all the talking!
Congratulations #TeamIndia on sealing a deserved series win! #IndvAus pic.twitter.com/bDbP5li6Jn— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) March 28, 2017
Super series and great result for team India…@BCCI
— parthiv patel (@parthiv9) March 28, 2017
Well played #TeamIndia ! Congratulations on the series win!#INDvAUS #DharamsalaTest @BCCI
— R P Singh रुद्र प्रताप सिंह (@rpsingh) March 28, 2017
Do what's right, the right way and at the right time and Team India did that beautifully throughout this season. Brilliant work lads @Bcci
— Rohit Sharma (@ImRo45) March 28, 2017
Congrats to India on a wonderful series win, it was a great series to watch. Well done to the Inexpierienced Aussies too who fought hard ! ✔
— Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne) March 28, 2017
https://twitter.com/MitchJohnson398/status/846594606250807296
India win by 8 wickets and win series 2-1?
Well done to players of both sides for a top notch entertaining series ?#IndvAus— Damien Fleming (@bowlologist) March 28, 2017
End of a great great season for India. 10-1 and two draws in the 13 home tests. The pace bowlers have been the unsung heroes for me.
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) March 28, 2017
Brilliantly competitive series..Congratulations to the Indian cricket team on a terrific series win! #INDvAUS
— Ajit Agarkar (@imAagarkar) March 28, 2017
Very proud of our lads in India- they fought very hard.
Well done to India on their win.
Great test series.#INDvAUS— Jason Gillespie ? (@dizzy259) March 28, 2017
Lost 4 tosses vs England, won four Tests…lost three tosses vs Australia, won the series 2-1. Play well to make the toss irrelevant.
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) March 28, 2017
Congratulations Bharat on a wonderful season. Only Chuna in Puna. Great effort @anilkumble1074 in ensuring no complacency.
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) March 28, 2017
Fantastic intent from Rahul and Rahane. Now that is how you chase a low total.
— Michael Clarke (@MClarke23) March 28, 2017
Finally an absorbing Test series laid 2 rest-if only 'twas sans all ugly verbal barbs frm both camps!Don't think ICC cn remain dumb fr long!
— Bishan Bedi (@BishanBedi) March 28, 2017
Congratulations India. It's been a wonderful series. Aussies have played some very good cricket also. ?? just to good in this final Test. ?
— Michael Clarke (@MClarke23) March 28, 2017
The most gripping series I've watched for a long time! Credit to both teams, India too strong when it counted! Bring on the next 1 #IndvAus
— Michael Slater (@mj_slats) March 28, 2017