India were the favourites to win the series right from the start, but the way Australia started with an emphatic win in the first Test, the home team were aware that the Aussies were going to be their biggest test this home season.
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However, the regular skipper of India team Virat Kohli was not in the last match due to injury while playing the 3rd Test against Australia at Ranchi.
“No, it has changed for sure”.
“I really enjoyed it”, said Rahane.
Australia had won the first Test in Pune by 333 runs, while India won the second in Bengaluru by 75 runs.
While the batters did their job in both the innings, it was India’s bowling that ruled the roost in the Dharamsala Test.
Former India captain Sourav Ganguly is impressed with the form exhibited by pacer Umesh Yadav in the ongoing Test series against Australia.
In the process, Jadeja became the third all-rounder ever to score 500-plus runs and take more than 50 wickets in a season, behind Indian great Kapil Dev and Australia’s Mitchell Johnson. Needing just 106 runs to win with all 10 wickets intact at the start of the fourth day, the hosts eased past their target as opener KL Rahul remained 51 not out, while stand-in skipper Ajinkya Rahane was unbeaten on 38. Earlier, Jadeja and Saha had given India vital buffer with well played innings to take 32 run lead.
“But the maturity and the responsibility shown by all the guys in the team was pleasing to see”, he added.
Meanwhile visiting captain Steve Smith, who scored three centuries in the series, said he was “proud of the way the guys have competed”.
India’s Lokesh Rahul celebrates after winning the match. All I was telling myself, take a few hits for the team.
Ravindra Jadeja was named Player of the Match and Player of the Series for his 25 wickets and two gutsy half-centuries.
Starting their chase briskly this morning, India lost Murali Vijay (8) in the day’s eighth over, when he was caught behind off Pat Cummins (1-42).
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Kohli has only missed one game in the history of the IPL, which came in the inaugural season of the tournament in 2008. While the second innings has saved by the Australia players such as Shaun Marsh (53) and Peter Handscomb (72).
