Australia scripted a comprehensive 333-run win in under three days in the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Pune. Powered by left-arm spinner Steve O’Keefe record twelve-wicket haul and captain Steven Smith’s century, the visitors took a 1-0 lead in the four-Test series.
While the win was impressive in its own right – snapping India’s 19-match unbeaten streak – it was the manner of the win that made it stand out even more. Australia outplayed India in all departments of the game, bowling them out for 105 and 107 in both innings and neutralising their spinners with gritty batting. On one hand, this was Australia’s first Test victory in India since the Nagpur Test in 2004, on the other this was Virat Kohli’s lowest aggregate score in a home Test, telling you just how out-of-the-ordinary this Test was.
To no one’s surprise, Twitter was abuzz with commentary and analysis of the Test, from both players and fans alike. While the Aussie players heartily celebrated the win on social media, the Indians were more circumspect. Check out some of the most interesting tweets on the famous Pune victory.
Former Australian cricketers were delighted at this win in the ‘Final Frontier’
🇦🇺congrats boys. Absolutely brilliant!
— Michael Clarke (@MClarke23) February 25, 2017
Aust, you beauty! Celebrate like there is no tomorrow. Then tomorrow, start focusing on the next one. @CricketAus 🏏🔥🇦🇺🍾🍻
— Adam Gilchrist (@gilly381) February 25, 2017
Proud!#INDvAUS
— Jason Gillespie (@dizzy259) February 25, 2017
Incredible Aussie performance in Pune. So happy for Steve O'Keefe!He has toiled so hard for this👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻. @stevesmith49 amazing 100 too.
— Shane Watson (@ShaneRWatson33) February 25, 2017
You ripper Australia! Brilliant test match and the perfect way to start the test series. #INDvAUS
— Mitchell Johnson (@MitchJohnson398) February 25, 2017
Sing it LOUD boys! 👏🏻 @CricketAus #Proud
— Peter Siddle (@petersiddle403) February 25, 2017
You little beauty Australia!!! #CMONAUSSIE
— Ryan Harris (@r_harris413) February 25, 2017
All time! This is phenomenal.
— Ed Cowan (@eddiecowan) February 25, 2017
That is AMAZING. What a win for the @CricketAus boys. SOK. Outstanding! #CalleditforPlayeroftheSeries 👌🏽#INDvAUS
— Trent Copeland (@copes9) February 25, 2017
While former Indian cricketers had somewhat less happy things to say
Good wake up call this for India.Track with too much spin evens the advantage.Congratulations to Australia for a fantastic victory#IndvAus
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) February 25, 2017
Life's a Pitch 😐 #IndvAus
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) February 25, 2017
Good friends make even difficult times easier. It's disappointing but r you a good friend?
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) February 25, 2017
Time to be a good friend&continue to support Team
India's scores in last 6 innings on rank turners - 201,200,215 & 173 V SA at home.
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) February 25, 2017
105 & 107 this Test. Rank turners make India vulnerable.
The massive win threw up some interesting stats
6 for 35 in the 1st innings
— TheField (@thefield_in) February 25, 2017
6 for 35 in the 2nd innings
Steve O'Keefe SOKed it! #IndvAus pic.twitter.com/YX6JjNsPzp
Best Test bowling by player with same figs in each inns
— Andrew Samson (@AWSStats) February 25, 2017
6-35 S O'Keefe A v I 2017
6-52 B Chandrasekhar I v A 1977/78
212 runs, 20 wickets, 74 overs.
— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) February 25, 2017
Lowest match aggregate for India in a home Test losing all 20 wickets, also least overs faced.
Australia in the first Test of a series in India:
— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) February 25, 2017
Matches-14
Won-7
Lost-4
Drawn-2
Tied-1#IndvAus
Test bowling average in India:
— Daniel Cherny 📰 (@DanielCherny) February 24, 2017
Shane Warne: 43.11
Steve O'Keefe: 5.83
SOK's 12-70 is the cheapest 12-wicket haul in Test cricket, just knocking off George Lohmann's (Eng) 12-71 in 1896.
— Ric Finlay (@RicFinlay) February 25, 2017
India 105 and 107. @stevesmith49 109. Does that tell a story? #IndvAus
— Gautam Bhimani (@gbhimani) February 25, 2017
Indian batsmen against left-arm spinners in 2016-17 season:
— Rajneesh Gupta (@rgcricket) February 25, 2017
all others: Avg 57.75
vs SOK : Avg 5.83#IndvAus #IndvsAus #AUSvIND
Here’s what the captains had to say after the match
"It's been 4502 days since Australia won a Test in India, I know it to the day." - Steve Smith #KeepingCount
— Ashish Magotra (@clutchplay) February 25, 2017
If you drop 5 catches off 1 batsmen and lose 7 wickets for 11 runs, you don't deserve to win a Test: Virat Kohli on Pune loss#IndvAus
— TheField (@thefield_in) February 25, 2017
And here’s something for India to laugh about, after all that
Worst day for Steven O'Keefe, he failed to take Ishant Sharma's wicket in this entire match.#IndVAus
— Sunil- The Cricketer (@1sInto2s) February 25, 2017