Former Indian captain and the current president of the BCCI Sourav Ganguly lauded skipper Ajinkya Rahane and Team India for their memorable series-leveling eight-wicket win at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
This was India’s 4th win at the MCG- the most they have won at any venue in Australia- and also their second consecutive win in a Boxing Day Test Down Under, making them only the second visiting team after England (1982 & 1986) and the first this century to achieve the feat.
Ganguly took to his official Twitter account where he wrote:
“A special win at MCG ..India loves playing here ..well done Ajinkya rahane @ajinkyarahane88 ..good people finish first too..congratulations to [email protected]@ashwinravi99 .best of luck for the next 2 games @bcci,”
A special win at MCG ..india loves playing here ..well done Ajinkya rahane @ajinkyarahane88 ..good people finish first too.. congratulations to all..@imjadeja @ashwinravi99 .best of luck for the next 2 games @bcci
— Sourav Ganguly (@SGanguly99) December 29, 2020
It was a special win for India at the ‘G, given the fact that they had come into the Test on the back of a morale-crushing eight-wicket defeat in Adelaide, one that saw them record their lowest-ever Test total, and also because they were without their three match-winners in regular skipper Virat Kohli, Ishant Sharma, and Mohammed Shami.
It was a Test match that belonged as much to India’s senior players like captain Ajinkya Rahane, off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, and pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah as it did to the youngsters like Shubman Gill, Mohammed Siraj or Rishabh Pant as each and every member made a telling contribution in the 8-wicket win.
Skipper, Rahane had a near-perfect game where he not only led from the front courtesy of his gritty 112 in the first innings and a nerve-setting 27 in the second and his proactive leadership where he affected fielding placements, bowling changes with aplomb.
And, deservedly, Rahane was adjudged the ‘Player of the Match’