Test cricket needs more. More character. More power and strength to survive. It sucks the soul out of you and drains all your energy, but still, there is so much beauty in the game that makes a cricketer obsessed with it. Today was one such day. We witnessed Pant going berserk while Pujara, as cool as always had the best seat for Pant’s madness. When they were gone, Vihari and Ashwin had a lot to prove.
On Day Five, all three results were possible. While the momentum was with the hosts, India needed more. They needed more dedication, mental strength to pull off a defence. In the world of T20s, a draw was unlikely at the beginning but Vihari and Ashwin proved why they deserve a place in the team with a performance that they can always be proud of.
Now, it didn’t come normally. Vihari had hamstring issues and cannot run. Still, he was going toe to toe against some of the best bowlers in the world cricket. He wasn’t turning away but stood tall. India even had a session where they didn’t literally run at all.
On the other hand, Ashwin had his own set of troubles. He was suffering in silence. He had troubles with his back, he couldn’t even tie his laces early in the morning of the day. Still, he showed up. He came in to face some of the brutal deliveries from the Australian pacers. He was attacked, got hit on almost all the parts of the body, still, he was standing and made sure to protect his wicket, thereby, protecting his team.
When the Australian team began to sledge, of course, they had no options than to do this, Ashwin even tried to give it back. They made sure not to slip away the plan by communicating in Hindi or English but switched to Thamizh. Ashwin made sure to cheer Vihari up literally every single over, every single delivery by telling him how to keep things in check.
Had any one of them failed, we had another batter who was, again, ready to give it all. He had a broken thumb but he could care less and had pads on, waiting for his chance.
One should never forget that this is Team Kohli. The team he always dreamt and is proud of. Today, this team managed to pull off something like this in the absence of their captain, their best batter.
What makes it even more special is that it came against Australia in Australia, against an accurate bowling attack who were going all over the body with their short balls. Frustrated much, they had no other plans than to damage the batters. Of course, to bowl more than 100 overs under a scorching sun isn’t an easy job.
Australia did everything. Right from making bowling change to keep an attacking field for Lyon, but both the batters were too good to defend everything even if they had to put themselves out there.
Fortune favours the brave, they say, and India’s innings wasn’t without the luck factor. Every other day, the edges would’ve fallen right into the hands. There wouldn’t be dropped chances. The catches would’ve changed the course of the game, but it didn’t. For all the character this team showed, they do deserve a bit of this.
This match will be remembered for years to come not only for the way India batted but also for the way they showed the resistance, mental strength and determination despite being in so much pain. They might not have scored 100s and 50s, but this is worth even more, and that’s the beauty of Test cricket, isn’t it?
