Border-Gavaskar Trophy, 2020-21: India defeated Australia by 2-1 in four matches for what is arguably one of the most dramatic Test match series that goes down in history. This series has been described as mirroring the heroic 2005 Ashes in contest between bat and ball because of the very thrilling battles presented in this 2020-21 series. In what would be an historic triumph for India, they came into this match with a clutch of injuries and the unavailability of several key players on the field, coming off a great win after breaking Australia’s unbeaten run at the Gabba in Brisbane. Rishabh Pant played a decisive role in this match by scoring an unbeaten 89 runs in the last innings to help India over the challenging target of 328.

India’s Win In Border-Gavaskar Trophy

It was a very special victory for the team because Virat Kohli, after the first Test went on paternity leave, and other important cricketers like Mohammed Shami, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravichandran Ashwin were out of this match due to injuries. The captain of Australia who played against India in that series is Tim Paine who later stated that many of them believe Rishabh Pant was the hero to their team, but for him, it was totally different.

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Cheteshwar Pujara, The Hero Behind Victory

Paine said that Cheteshwar Pujara was the key in India’s victory as Pujara was able to blunt the Australian attack. Even though he didn’t score many centuries in the course of the series, Pujara’s determination to outstay the Aussie bowlers and the pressure was key. He took blows after blows without giving up even once. He returned unbeaten in four Tests, scoring 271 runs with a top score of 77, while Rishabh Pant finished with 274 runs.

Tim Paine Hails Cheteshwar Pujara As Match Winner

“What I do remember, a lot of people talk about Rishabh Pant in the last series in Australia, but the guy who won them the series was Pujara. He wore us down, he wore our fast bowlers down. He kept getting hit on the body, but he kept getting up. There is still place for that in Test cricket,” said Paine on the Grade Cricketer’s Podcast.

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The series had a bumpy ride for India, who, in the second innings of the pink-ball Test, were bowled out for a paltry 36 runs. However, things took a dramatic turn for India when they came out all guns blazing under captain Ajinkya Rahane in the Melbourne Test, which levelled the series and paved the way for their incredible victory.

Team India will again be playing the Border-Gavaskar Trophy this year starting from November 22.