Former India batsman Sunil Gavaskar stated that the team performs best when pushed to the corner by the Australian media following India’s 295-run victory in the first Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test in Perth. Following their recent humiliating 0–3 home Test series loss to New Zealand, Team India was under tremendous pressure.
Team India defeated Australia in the first test match by 295 runs of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Despite all odds and media criticism Team India came out strong and with a thumping response. Players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul and Jasprit Bumrah proved their mettle once again.
After getting bundled out for 150 in the first innings team India revamped itself by bringing the Aussies down to just 105 runs in the first innings. In India’s second innings, the young prodigy Yashasvi Jaiswal scored a daddy hundred (161 of 297 balls). Virat Kohli scored exactly 100 to help India post a mammoth total of 487 in the second innings.
Jasprit Bumrah was the star with the ball in both innings as he picked up a 5fer in the first innings and backed it up with a 3fer in the second innings. Being the captain, Jasprit Bumrah certainly led from the front. He was awarded the Man Of The Match for his brilliant bowling and captaincy which made the difference.
Sunil Gavaskar’s Raging Response To Australian Media.
According to Sunil Gavaskar, India have historically produced their best when backed into a corner by the Australian media. Following the first Test, Sunil Gavaskar told India Today :
“Now remember that Suryakumar Yadav catch in T20 World Cup final. There was so many things being written in the media in Australia question the legality of that catch. How can you sitting right here in Australia question if Suryakumar’s feet touched the ground? That is why our team showed that we are a side [that] will thrash you in this series,”
Sunil Gavaskar spoke about Team India’s last win at Perth, he said :
“Remember India’s win at Perth in 2007-08 series came right after that controversy between Harbhajan Singh and Andrew Symonds, which was followed by criticism from Australian media. So that win in Perth, and the win this time, it shows that each time Australian media goes against India…”
Since their incredible 2-1 triumph after falling behind 0-1 in 2020–21, India has now won three of their past four Test matches against Australia Down Under, including the one in Perth. After winning their previous four red-ball matches, it was Australia’s first Test loss at Perth Stadium.
On December 6, the two sides will travel to Adelaide for the second Test, which will be a day-night match.