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They say Test cricket is all about absorbing pressure and riding on momentum, wearing down the opposition while you silently keep loading in your armoury, and then unleashing your arsenal at just about the right time.
After giving that 87 run lead in the first innings, few would have expected the down and out Indian side to make any sort of an impact in this Test match. But Pujara, Rahane and Rahul turned it on. They soaked in the pressure, applied themselves and ultimately helped India gain a more than handy 187 run lead.
And when you have anything more than 150 to chase on an up and down 4th day subcontinent track, you are going to be weary. Especially after you have been through batting collapse after batting collapse in the same conditions just a few weeks back. Thoughts start to wander, strategies start to look foolish and minimal targets seem to look outlandish.
Combine that with a renewed confidence in your opponent, and you know that things aren’t going to be all that mushy for long.
India were cornered tigers before the last day, they were close to finding their feet but no where close to being the king of the jungle. But when you have done it time and again, it is only a matter of that oomph coming back to you, before you start dominating the opposition again. And it was no surprise that the Indian attack turned up for what was a lethal bowling performance in the 4th innings.
With a lot of focus being on the ‘sledge hammer’ when these two countries face each other, it was a delight to see such an even contest this time round. India are well and truly back and if they can dig deep and find their mojo once again, the series from here on could turn out to be a mirror image of the bygone(New Zealand, England and Bangaldesh) series.
Here is how Twitter reacted to India’s brilliant comeback in the series:
Happy Days are here again #India wins the 2nd test against #Australia by 75 runs. Back on track 1-1. Exciting series.
— Sreedhar Pillai (@sri50) March 7, 2017
Congratulations Team India for a terrific come from behind win. Shame on Team Australia for organised cheating with DRS
— Sanjay Dixit ಸಂಜಯ್ ದೀಕ್ಷಿತ್ संजय दीक्षित (@Sanjay_Dixit) March 7, 2017
https://twitter.com/ZeeStudio/status/839062467720404992
Team India Always Makes Us Proud 💪@ashwinravi99 pic.twitter.com/mHWM00gQGX
— Chay (@Swarup_Simma) March 7, 2017
Congrats Team India on a fabulous,scintillating win👏Loved the determination,fight&agression of each and every player👌Keep it up👍#IndvAus
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) March 7, 2017
https://twitter.com/SirJadejaaaa/status/839049271575998464
More reactions on the next page
Unbelievable! What a fightback, what a test! Good on you, Team India! Now for the series! Congratulations @imVkohli @anilkumble1074
— Rahul Bose (@RahulBose1) March 7, 2017
https://twitter.com/tu_rehne_de/status/835510524116795393
Australia lost 6 wickets for 11 runs:
101/5
101/6
103/7
110/8
110/9
112 all out#INDvsAUS— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) March 7, 2017
https://twitter.com/KNVofficial1/status/839064334856675329
More reactions on the next page
Well done to the Indian boys and to you @cricketaakash .. you never lost faith!
Great coverage by @StarSportsIndia #INDvsAUS— Dean Jones AM (@ProfDeano) March 7, 2017
#INDvsAUS Steve #Smith reaction when they lose match 😂😂#india pic.twitter.com/50uX85Zd8N
— Hassan Noor Ahmed (@h12_official) March 7, 2017
Didn't see much today but what a brilliant Test match. Amazing turn around by @BCCI team. Great series ahead. #INDvsAUS
— Adam Gilchrist (@gilly381) March 7, 2017
Now that's better India …. A lot Better …. #INDvsAUS
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) March 7, 2017
Yipeee!!!! 💃🏻💃🏻. India wins the test match. #INDvsAUS. Well done team @BCCI 🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳.
— Anjum Chopra (@chopraanjum) March 7, 2017