Ind vs Aus: Injured Vihari, Ashwin stood and delivered to pull off an incredible draw!

Sydney, Jan 11: With injuries being a major setback for Team India, injured Hanuma Vihari and R Ashwin stood tall for the team and managed to pull off a draw in what was nothing easy path for India on the fifth day in the third Test between India and Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Monday.

 

Batting out 131 overs - the most India have batted in the fourth innings of a Test since 1980 - showed exactly what Ashwin meant when he spoke about playing like true warriors at the end of the fourth day's play at the SCG.

 

 

Vihari with a hamstring injury notwithstanding hit an unbeaten 161-ball 23. Meanwhile, Ashwin, who was in "unbelievable pain and could not stand up straight", hit 39 off 128 balls as the two destroyed hopes of Australia of registering a win. With an injured Ravindra Jadeja waiting in the pavilion, it was important for the two to ensure they saw India to the end and that is just what they did as the players shook hands with an over left.

 

 

 

However, special credit should be given to Nishant Pant and Cheteshwar Pujara as it all started in the morning when the team management decided to send in Pant after the dismissal of stand-in skipper Ajinkya Rahane's wicket. As the game clearly was in Australia's court but Pant decided to explore his potential.

 

 

Both the cricketers walked into the lunch break with a score of 206/3. With 201 needed and Pant on a roll, it suddenly looked like India was playing to go 2-1 up in the series. But Nathan Lyon dismissed on 97 and another collapse was witnessed. However, the out-of-form Vihari wasn't letting anybody down this time around.

 

Partnering with Ashwin, both of them decided to give their all despite the injuries and sledding to call it a draw. Not just that, they will walk onto The Gabba high on confidence after this inspiring effort. There was banter going on between Tim Paine and Ashwin. Paine tried to get into the skin of Ashwin, the Indian spinner did not mind to give back a befitting reply.

 

In all of this, the game will definitely be remembered for a great show of character by an Indian team which has missed the services of regular skipper Virat Kohli and a bunch of seniors like Mohammad Shami, Ishant Sharma, and Umesh Yadav in what is one of the toughest places to tour.

 

After playing out this epic draw, Australia and India on Monday retained their top two spots in the World Test Championship (WTC) standings. "An incredible battle in Sydney has helped both teams retain the top two spots in the ICC World Test Championship standings. A difference of 0.2 percent between India and New Zealand," tweeted ICC.