Picture : BCCI / Twitter
Team India came out with a dominant display in the Third Test at the Melbourne to win by 137 runs. It enabled Virat Kohli and his men to take a 2-1 lead in four match Test series .
India will retain the coveted Border- Gavaskar trophy even if the series is drawn level at Sydney as they have won the previous series at home in 2017.
It took only 27 balls on the fifth day afternoon as Jasprit Bumrah (3/53) and Ishant Sharma (2/40) completed the formalities in what turned out to be India’s 150th Test victory. Australia were bowled out for 261.
Bumrah with match figures of 9 for 86, who was the hero on what looked like a docile track.
Bumrah got rid of Pat Cummins (63), who edged to first slip and brought an end to his heroic effort in this Test.
Five balls later, Ishant Sharma got rid of Nathan Lyon (7), caught behind as Rishabh Pant took his 20th dismissal in this series, which is highest by any Indian wicket-keeper.
For Bumrah, 48 wickets in his debut Test season is highest by any pace bowler and also is a testimony to a lethal pace trio involving the veteran Ishant Sharma and the wily Mohammed Shami (2/71), who also played his part well.
The trio have collectively taken 134 away wickets (Bumrah 48, Ishant 40 and Shami 46) in a single calender year eclipsing the 34-year-old record that stood in the name of the fearsome West Indies trio of Malcolm Marshall, Michael Holding and Joel Garner (130 wickets in away tours in 1984).
No wonder skipper Virat Kohli was delighted and attributed their success to their ability to complement each other.
“We knew that it would be tough for Australia, but credit to our bowlers, especially Jasprit. The three fast bowlers have broken the record for most wickets by pacers in a calendar year for a team, which is brilliant,” Kohli was all praise for his speed merchants.
wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant has so far taken 20 catches in the series. Making steady progress as a keeper since his Test debut in England. Plus he has scored some handy runs as well. Debutant Mayank Agarwal made a fine 76 in India’s total and proved his talent and skills on the big stage. Hopefully he will now carry on
