India, after suffering an eight-wicket defeat in the first Test in Adelaide, bounced back in style to hand an eight-wicket defeat to Australia in the second Test, which ended at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Tuesday.
Fittingly, captain Ajinkya Rahane was the one to hit the winning runs at the MCG. With India down in the dumps after the hammering in the first Test, Rahane did remarkably well to lead the team from the front and score an all-important century in the first innings. He was declared the player of the match for his outstanding performance.
Watch: Ajinkya Rahane leads from the front as India beat Australia by 8 wickets in Melbourne Test
India were in trouble after being bowled out for 36, their lowest total in Test cricket, to lose the Test in Adelaide. To make matters worse, regular skipper Virat Kohli headed home for the birth of his first child and premier pacer Mohammed Shami was ruled out of the series due to an injury.
The visitors, however, were brave and made four changes for the Melbourne Test, with Shubman Gill (debut), Mohammed Siraj (debut), Ravindra Jadeja and Rishabh Pant coming into the side. And as things turned out, all four of these players made valuable contributions to the win.
Data check: With brilliant series-levelling win, India make it another memorable Melbourne match
Senior bowlers Ashwin Ravichandran (five wickets in the match) and Jasprit Bumrah (six wickets in the match) were the other big performers for India.
Twitter was full of praise for the Indian team for showing great character in turning things around Down Under.
Here are some reactions:
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 💪🇮🇳
— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) December 29, 2020
To win a Test match without Virat, Rohit, Ishant & Shami is a terrific achievement.
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) December 29, 2020
Loved the resilience and character shown by the team to put behind the loss in the 1st Test and level the series.
Brilliant win.
Well done TEAM INDIA! 👏🏻 #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/64A8Xes8NF
When your backs are up against the wall, lean back and enjoy the support of the wall!! Well done to the entire team and what a win that was💯🔥🔥🔥🥳🥳.
— Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) December 29, 2020
Special mention to Mohd Siraj and @RealShubmanGill 👏👏..@ajinkyarahane88 @cheteshwar1 @Jaspritbumrah93 @y_umesh @imjadeja pic.twitter.com/4t8IlxZFlW
Weldone Hats off Team India @BCCI @ajinkyarahane88 @imVkohli @RaviShastriOfc pic.twitter.com/CtKXRct2xy
— Kapil Dev (@therealkapildev) December 29, 2020
Congratulations Team India on a fantastic come back. @ajinkyarahane88’s great captaincy lead to an incredible win. @RealShubmanGill well done, Way to go! #INDvsAUSTest pic.twitter.com/pmo60h1xAG
— Suresh Raina🇮🇳 (@ImRaina) December 29, 2020
Spirited performance and a great comeback by the team. ♥️ 🇮🇳@BCCI pic.twitter.com/L4xyJXxugM
— Rishabh Pant (@RishabhPant17) December 29, 2020
That winning feeling 🙌🏼💯
— Jasprit Bumrah (@Jaspritbumrah93) December 29, 2020
So proud of everyone for coming together and pushing to make this win possible! There’s nothing better than ending 2020 on a high. pic.twitter.com/KXsrxVqahE
A really special win at the MCG.
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) December 29, 2020
Great Determination and great character. Rahane led from the fron,the bowlers were terrific and Gill is chill. pic.twitter.com/X3UO8H2LgR
Special team, special win 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/0SpJ6psra6
— Ajinkya Rahane (@ajinkyarahane88) December 29, 2020
Overcoming all the odds. Strong showing by the team at MCG. Thank you to all the fans for your support 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/XNxbH1pj0h
— Shubman Gill (@RealShubmanGill) December 29, 2020
A victory to cherish!
— cheteshwar pujara (@cheteshwar1) December 29, 2020
Proud of the character shown by the team. Onwards and upwards! 🇮🇳#inittogether #memorablewin #ausvsind pic.twitter.com/CNgRzq8jEG
Fantastic win for the Team India at the MCG. Character and composure shown throughout the game was excellent to watch @bcci
— Rohit Sharma (@ImRo45) December 29, 2020
T 3767 - YEEEEAAAAHHHHHHH !!!
— Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) December 29, 2020
India beats Australia in the 2nd test ..
Bola tha na maine ..
SETBACK ka jawaab COMBACK se denge .. !
de diya .. unke ghar mein ghus ke .. !!
Congratulations India 🇮🇳
Boxing day challenge conquered 🇮🇳💪
— Ravindrasinh jadeja (@imjadeja) December 29, 2020
Together we stronger 🇮🇳
Soaring On 🙌💪
Nice way to end the year 🇮🇳😉 Well done team 🙌 pic.twitter.com/hhPUWiCKbn
Come backs are always harder but team India did it with class. @BCCI #AUSvsIND
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) December 29, 2020
Winning the next Test of same series after getting out for 50 or less:
— Rajneesh Gupta (@rgcricket) December 29, 2020
Eng v Aus (Sydney 1887)
Eng v WI (Bridgetown 1994)
Aus v SA (Cape Town 2011)
Ind v Aus (Melbourne 2020) #AUSvIND #INDvsAUS
Well done team India @BCCI. Never underestimate a wounded tiger 😉#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/4kCHgRyW4i
— DK (@DineshKarthik) December 29, 2020
The proud recipient and the inaugural winner of the Mullagh Medal - #TeamIndia Captain @ajinkyarahane88 #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/0cBe2icMzz
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 29, 2020
Ending the year on a positive note! 💪🧡#AUSvIND #OrangeArmy #KeepRising pic.twitter.com/lC55BeRAxQ
— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) December 29, 2020
A win to remember. A win to cherish. Considering the Adelaide debacle and the quality of players unavailable for this game, it will go down as one of India’s finest wins overseas. Well done, Rahane and co. 👏👏 #AusvInd
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) December 29, 2020
Stunning response from India after the 1st test, Australia’s top order have been horribly exposed, some tough decisions required. #AUSvIND
— Tom Moody (@TomMoodyCricket) December 29, 2020
Well done India 🇮🇳...absolutely brilliant. Has to be one of the most impressive overseas win given the circumstances coming into this game 👏🏻👏🏻#AUSvIND
— Ajit Agarkar (@imAagarkar) December 29, 2020
No Kohli.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) December 29, 2020
No Shami.
No Ishant.
No Rohit.
No Umesh in second innings.
Gill making debut.
Siraj making debut.
Lost the toss.
Still, India beat Australia in Australia - One of the greatest wins ever in Test cricket history. pic.twitter.com/eJY4ysvDg2
Big win!
— Chinmay Bhogle (@chinmaybhogle) December 29, 2020
I think India has better batting than Australia in general, and it'll be a theme that'll play out throughout the series (barring a Steve Smith turnaround)
But that Australian bowling attack, best in the world right now, will always be a problem.
Good series ahead!
#INDvAUS #AUSvIND https://t.co/cpb0rUKMEF pic.twitter.com/QemqRrYuMJ
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) December 29, 2020
WOW!! Incredible comeback. What a win. Fine display of mental strength and character. Congratulations to each and every member of the Squad. @BCCI #INDvAUS
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) December 29, 2020
Everybody loves #Rahane 🤗 good one Skipper!!! #INDvsAUSTest
— neeru bhatia (@neerubhatia3) December 29, 2020
When we were dismissed for 42 in 1974, we lost the next test by an innings, because it is so difficult to pick oneself up after a loss that bad.
— Joy Bhattacharjya (@joybhattacharj) December 29, 2020
This team, with their best batsman & captain gone, 1 strike bowler injured before the test & 1 during has performed an absolute miracle
Yes! What a great test match win👏🏽 #INDvAUS
— Shikha Pandey (@shikhashauny) December 29, 2020
Indian players part of most winning Tests in SENA countries:
— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) December 29, 2020
8 - Ishant Sharma
7 - Rahul Dravid
7 - Sunil Gavaskar
7 - VVS Laxman
7 - Sachin Tendulkar
7 - Cheteshwar Pujara*#AUSvIND
India's - 52nd away Test victory!
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) December 29, 2020
Their 8th win in Aus in 50th match & 29th vs Aus in 100th H2H match
1st Test win in 2020.
Most 'away' Test victories for India
4 - at Melbourne (1978, 1981, 2018, 2020)
3 - at Port of Spain/Kingston/Colombo SSC#AusvInd#INDvAUS #BoxingDayTest
Gill is ready. Very impressive.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) December 29, 2020
Big day for Indian cricket.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) December 29, 2020
That Siraj has played the way he has in this match while still grieving for his father is really something. No matter who you support, you have to feel happy for him and his family, who must be so proud. Kudos to the team and management for supporting him through it. #AUSvIND
— Melinda Farrell (@melindafarrell) December 29, 2020
1st Match: Aus beat Ind by 8 wickets
— Sagar (@sagarcasm) December 29, 2020
2nd Match: Ind beat Aud by 8 wickets pic.twitter.com/FWszwpCunM
Indns make it 1-All to silence the 4-0 OZ cry...nice to remain calm as @ajinkyarahane88 & deliver.There were a couple of hiccups on way to 8 Wkts triumph..but all’s well that ends well..this OZ batting is pretty average-read mediocre-so Indns can win the series..InshaAllah..!!
— Bishan Bedi (@BishanBedi) December 29, 2020
Lot of positives from this win. Rahane led the side brilliantly, bowlers were relentless but the biggest positive is the performance of two debutants. Both of them were confident and not overawed by the big occasion. Strength of Indian cricket is their strong bench strength.
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) December 29, 2020
I picked it 23 hours ago! https://t.co/xgKuIPIZmM
— Rob Moody (@robelinda2) December 29, 2020
Congratulations @BCCI Well led and you do have to really take note of how good the Indian bowling unit is 👏👏#AUSvIND Well done 👍🏼
— Russel Arnold (@RusselArnold69) December 29, 2020
अद्भुत भारत, अतुल्य भारत, 'अजिंक्य' भारत! 🇮🇳 #INDvAUS #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/KIgNjfe945
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) December 29, 2020
Dravid - Adelaide
— Anant Tyagi (@anantyagi_) December 29, 2020
Rahane - Melbourne
Oh the winning runs feeling in Australia is back again. Goodbye 2020! #INDvAUS #Rahane
Bumrah, Ashwin, Jadeja put in special performances too. Highlight though was debutants Gill and Siraj rising to the occasion. Stars in the making
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) December 29, 2020
As many as 54 visiting players made their Test debut with a win on Australian soil.
— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) December 29, 2020
Only Irfan Pathan (19y 50d) and Phil DeFreitas (20y 274d) were younger than Shubman Gill (21y 112d) by the time of the victory! #AUSvIND
None of Ajinkya Rahane’s 12 Test hundreds came in a losing cause. 9 of them in wins and rest three in draws. Excellent!#AUSvIND
— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) December 29, 2020
Today India won two of their three #BoxingDayTest matches - 10 years apart!
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) December 29, 2020
2010: at Durban by 87 runs (Captain: MS Dhoni)
2020: at Melbourne by 8 wickets (Captain: Ajinkya Rahane)#AusvInd#INDvAUS
For the first time, Australia has lost a home Test match with both Steve Smith and Pat Cummins in the playing XI.
— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) December 29, 2020
Australia with Smith and Cummins in home Tests before this game: Played - 11, Won - 10, Draw - 1. #AUSvIND
The cover drive on the up! A stunning shot from Ajinkya Rahane and a pretty good snapshot of India's performance in the second Test.@hcltech | #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/Kx5g3GE5T2
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 29, 2020
Rahane winning man of the match restores your faith in the world, and in goodness. #INDvAUS
— Rahul Fernandes (@newspaperwallah) December 29, 2020
अजिंक्या जिंकला रे !! #INDvAUS @ajinkyarahane88
— smitha nair (@smitharnair) December 29, 2020
Perth ‘08, Headingley ‘02, Melbourne ‘81: away wins that India pulled off when few gave them a chance. Now they have won in Melbourne without 4 of their first-choice players against one of the best Australian attacks. A victory that will be spoken of for a long long time
— Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee) December 29, 2020