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Image Credit - Times Of India[/caption]The Indian team battled a lot of pain and defied sledging and stonewalled a world-class bowling attack in their backyard and also outlived the umpiring howlers. In Sydney Cricket Ground on Monday, true grit and passive resistance were embodied by Ravichandran Ashwin and HanumaVihari and revived the much-forgotten art of saving a test match and pulled off a draw against the mighty Aussies that is almost like a win.
Still, three hours were left to play and more than 40 overs were needed to be bowled as the finest defender from India, CheteshwarPujara was out for a well made 77. Then Ashwin came out to bat. He was in severe pain in the morning and was unable to tie the shoelaces and joined Vihari on the crease who was hobbling already and was pretty much racked by a torn hamstring. He was able to bat but he could not run.
Jadeja was waiting in the pavilion to come out but had a fractured thumb and was asking teammates to peel the bananas. The rest of the tail could not bat as the Aussies were very close to landing the knockout punch to a team where almost everybody was injured.
But Ashwin and Vihari came out and batted like soldiers and made it the last stand. Vihari is looking to cement his place in the Indian test team and came out with flying colors by passing the test of his character and technique. Ashwin was hit with blows all over the torso and the two deserve the Veer Chakra for their batting.
Both of them gave an inspiring batting performance and gathered strength from each other and words of wisdom were exchanged in Tamil. The batting was turned into comradeship by both the players. Shots were not played by them as they were not interested in making it a highlight package but the day’s highlight was their fortitude, even though a crackerjack 97 was scored by Risabh Pant.
The greatest 23 was scored by Vihari in the test history of India. Ashwin can take 15 wicket haul in a test match but this batting performance of 39 is going to have a special place in his autobiography.
Indian batted so many overs in a test match in 1979 to save the Oval test match. But after 2002, India was unable to survive 100 overs in the fourth inning and they batted for 131 over on Monday to save the test match in Sydney Cricket Ground.
The unflinching 81 by Anshuman Gaekwad in older times against a hostile attack of the Carribeans in Kinston in 1971 saved a test. In 1981 in MCG, Kapil Dev had a fractured toe but he bowled a memorable spell to take India to an improbable victory. Anil Kumble had a broken jaw in 2002 in Antigua and they belong to the cherished group of very fine players.
