Indian skipper Ajinkya Rahane has lauded Hanuma Vihari and Ravichandran Ashwin for their gutsy performance in churning out a draw in the final day of the Sydney Test. Both the batsmen batted for over three hours each and scored an unbeaten 62 of 259 balls as India salvaged a draw. They encountered a lot of short-pitched deliveries in the process and taken a few hits to their body as well. Vihari played along with a hamstring injury that denied him from running between the wickets.
Skipper Ajinkya Rahane has praised both Ashwin and Vihari in the post-match presser saying that they showed a lot of character in the way they played.
Ashwin & Vihari Showed Character: Ajinkya Rahane
“Special mention to Vihari and Ashwin. The way they batted in the end and showed character was really good to see,” he added.”
He further praised young Rishabh Pant for his counter-attacking innings that made India hopeful of a win. He scord 97 of 118 deliveries and added a 148-run stand with Cheteshwar Pujara (77) at the other end.
“Credit to him (Pant). We made that strategy but in the end it is all about the player executing the plan,” Rahane further said.
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Speaking about the playing out a draw after being behind in the Test match, skipper Ajinkya Rahane said that the aim was to play positive cricket and show a lot of character in trying to seek a win.
“Our talk coming this morning was to show character and fight till the end. Not to think about the result. Really happy with the way we fought especially today but also throughout the game, even in the first innings when Australia were 200 for 2 and getting them all out for 338 was really good” said Rahane.
This win helps Indis to stay alive in the series. The series is level at 1-all with the final Test match starting in Brisbane from January 15. The visitors will need to either draw or win the Test to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Australia meanwhile, will need to win the Test match to regain the trophy as well. A loss will see them losing two back-to-back Test series against the World No.3 side.
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