Player of the Match
Player of the Match

END OF OVER:
97 | 11 Runs 1 Wkt | IND: 329/7

  • Rishabh Pant89 (138b)
  • Navdeep Saini0 (0b)
  • Josh Hazlewood22-5-74-1
  • Nathan Lyon31-7-85-2

6.03pm Rahane hands the trophy to T Natarajan, the juniormost member of the side, as India pose for team photos. It's a bittersweet feeling that this series has ended, for me and I'm sure for all of you as well. We've seen some incredible Test cricket over the years, and this series ranks with anything you might throw at it. Remember also that all this unfolded in the backdrop of a global pandemic, and thank everyone who made this series happen. It's been an absolute privilege bringing it to you, so from myself, Gnasher, Varun, Chandan, and everyone else involved in this series, thank you for following our coverage (there's a lot of post-match stuff to come still), and goodbye.

And if you want to relive all the emotions of this incredible day, and you happen to live in the subcontinent (sorry, everyone else), here are the highlights.

Ajinkya Rahane: "It really means a lot to us. I don't know how to describe this victory. I'm just proud of all the boys, each and every individual. We just wanted to give our best, not to think about the result. When I went in, conversation between me and Pujara was Puji to bat normal and me to go for my shots, because we knew Rishabh and Mayank were there. Credit to Pujara, the way he handled the pressure was magnificent, and Rishabh was brilliant in the end. Taking 20 wickets was the key, that's what we identified, that's why we picked five bowlers. Washington Sundar got that balance for us, intention was to play five bowlers. Siraj had played two Test matches, Saini one, Thakur one, Natarajan also on debut, all credit to them. After Adelaide we didn't discuss about what happened, we just wanted to play our game, show good attitude, show good character on the field. It was all about the team effort. I would also like to thank our fans who came out here and supported us, and the Indian team would like to give Nathan Lyon a signed jersey for his 100th Test match."

Tim Paine: "Absolutely disappointed. We came here to win the Test and win the series, it's been a bit of a trend that we were found wanting in the key moments and completely outplayed by a tough Indian side that fully deserves the win. I think there's lots of things we'll look back at, but what's done is done. We need to look forward now, there's a big series in South Africa coming up, we've been outplayed by the better side in this series. I think we got about what we wanted in the end. We wanted to set a bit over 300, dangle a carrot to win the Test match and win the series. We might have had another 20 overs had it not rained. But India turned up and put their bodies on the line. [Reviews] are part of the job. sometimes they work, sometimes they don't. But all credit to India, our bowlers threw everything at them." Pat Cummins is the player of the series. "Good hard day of Test cricket today, I thought Rishabh and the whole Indian side played fantastically, took the game on and deserved the win. I would have liked the cracks to play a few more tricks, but it was a pretty good wicket. Once you were in, it was pretty free-flowing, the runs. I thought today and in Sydney the game was ours to win on day five, but we didn't take enough wickets, but overall happy [with my performance]."

Rishabh Pant is the man of the match. "This is one of the biggest moments of my life now, and I'm happy that all the support staff and all my teammates supported me even when I wasn't playing," he says. "It's been a dream series. The team management always backs me and tells me, you are a matchwinner and you have to go win the match for the team. I keep thinking every day that I want to win matches for India, and I did it today. It was a fifth-day pitch and the ball was turning a bit. I thought I have to be disciplined with my shot selection."

5.50pm What a chase. And everything went to plan for India. Cheteshwar Pujara sewed one end up for more than half of the day, and by the time the final hour began, the Australian bowlers had very little left in the tank for a final push. But India were never too far behind the ask, on a strange pitch where the ball misbehaved frequently but also came onto the bat very very well, which meant the bad and marginally bad balls kept disappearing to the boundary. Shubman Gill timed it like he was batting in a dream, and Rishabh Pant, well, batted like only he can. From Australia's perspective, a lot of questions will be raised around Mitchell Starc's performance.

Oswin: ""Wait until you get to Gabba, mate" - ha ha ha!"

Floyd Harrison: "To quote the millions of Indians from overseas and the billions at home; "Wow" "

Sujoy: "Aussies can't fathom what happened in last 90 minutes or so! " -- I'm not sure I can either.

Kausik ghosh: "Miracle repeats after 20 years !"

Raj: "Injuries to key bowlers was a blessing in disguise for India. When it mattered the most in the final test India had a much fresher bowling attack which seems to have mattered a lot. The poor Aussie bowlers were looking too tired on the final day." -- Fresher, but who would have known they'd bowl so well?

DivasK: "AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH! Sorry I cannot scream at 2:41 AM in my dorm here in Toronto, this will have to do! What a fantastic series, thanks for taking us home, Karthik."

5.38pm Phew, let me collect my thoughts for a minute. Wow. India have won 2-1. They've won the decider with this bowling attack: Mohammed Siraj, T Natarajan, Shardul Thakur, an injured Navdeep Saini, Washington Sundar. They took 20 wickets. At the Gabba. Where Australia hadn't lost in a million years. And what about the batting? Shubman Gill hadn't made his debut before this series, Rishabh Pant wasn't a certainty before this series, and Virat Kohli is watching this from halfway around the planet. The last day at Sydney couldn't be bettered, you might have thought, but here we are, last day in Brisbane, last day of the series. It's unreal, simply unreal.

India are taking a slow victory lap around the Gabba now. What scenes. Mohammed Siraj and Shardul Thakur are right out in front of it. You could pick anyone and stick them in front and it would be apt.

96.6
4
Hazlewood to Pant, FOUR, full, angling across to off stump, and he's creamed that to the long-off boundary! To repeat the words of Tony Greig from 20 years ago, India have won the Test match, India have won the series, and this series has been as much of a fairytale as that one. Let me describe briefly. There was no mid-off, just a straight extra-cover, and Pant brought his wrists into play to drive that full one to the left of the fielder. He kept running, Saini kept running, and I guess no one realised there was no fielder near the ball until it dribbled past the rope
96.5
0
Hazlewood to Pant, no run, full, wide of leg stump, looks for the one-arm sweep and misses. Good use of the negative line from Hazlewood

Here's Navdeep Saini. They crossed over, so Pant will be on strike. Hazlewood goes over the wicket to him now. Arun: "I would like to believe I played a major part with cricinfo partnership in this (possibly) win of India. Ever since the 36 all out session that I saw I have been only seeing the series via cricinfo and that too in a very superstitious way - I have are only scores via the series tab and then frantically read every ball commentary at the end of the day. Boy cricket is superstitious isn't it."

Rama: "Tim Paine : Can't wait to get to the Gabba. So can't we"

Andrew : "Got only respect for the way India has played. Well done and see you at Lords. From New Zealand."

96.4
W
Hazlewood to Thakur, OUT, now Thakur lobs one straight in the air. This one falls into square leg's hands, though. India still need 3, and they have three wickets left. Back of a length, angling into off stump, and Thakur looks to work it across the line, only manages a leading edge

SN Thakur c Lyon b Hazlewood 2 (5m 3b 0x4 0x6) SR: 66.66

96.3
2
Hazlewood to Thakur, 2 runs, back of a length, angles into the pads, clips it away to long leg. The fielder didn't have too much room to cover to his left, but they sprint two anyway. Tired legs all over the field now

Over the wicket to Thakur. Two slips and a gully.

96.2
1
Hazlewood to Pant, 1 run, six to win, goes for the glory hit. Fullish, angling into off stump, looks to slog it over midwicket, and ends up slicing it high over the backward point region. Ends up landing away from both deep point rushing in and cover running to his right. It's Pant's day
96.1
4
Hazlewood to Pant, FOUR, short, angling down leg, and Pant swivels to pull and find the gap to the right of long leg. He falls onto his backside while doing so as well. He's played the falling scoop, now he's played the falling pull, and he's nailing everything out of the middle

Hazlewood, around the wicket.

Seth: "Now Australia might be wishing for rain. So much for aus white washing India 4-0."

END OF OVER:
96 | 5 Runs 1 Wkt | IND: 318/6

  • Shardul Thakur0 (1b)
  • Rishabh Pant80 (134b)
  • Nathan Lyon31-7-85-2
  • Josh Hazlewood21-5-63-0
95.6
0
Lyon to Thakur, no run, back and across to defend a length ball spinning in from outside off, meets it right under his eyes

Here's Shardul Thakur. He's had an outstanding game so far. Lyon goes over the wicket.

Shelly: "If Lyon is continuing its because of Pujara, who tired all the fast bowlers out of the attack."

95.5
W
Lyon to Washington Sundar, OUT, bowled him, you might ask if he needed to play that shot. Not much of a reaction from the Australia players, though, because India only need 10. He's played well, and he misjudges the line, possibly, while trying to reverse-sweep this. A little too close for him, and perhaps there's a bottom edge too, onto the stumps

Washington Sundar b Lyon 22 (41m 29b 2x4 1x6) SR: 75.86

95.4
3
Lyon to Pant, 3 runs, what a shot. That's tossed up very wide of off stump, and Pant somehow gets a big stretch out and uses his bottom hand brilliantly to whack a sweep out well in front of square, making deep square leg run a long way to his right to stop it
95.3
0
Lyon to Pant, no run, short outside off, keeps low and sneaks under the attempted cut

India 4th innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st18RG SharmaShubman Gill
2nd114CA PujaraShubman Gill
3rd35CA PujaraAM Rahane
4th61CA PujaraRR Pant
5th37MA AgarwalRR Pant
6th53Washington SundarRR Pant
7th7SN ThakurRR Pant
8th4NA SainiRR Pant