For many decades, Australia remained one of the biggest challenges in Indian cricket. India had managed Test wins Down Under before, but a series win continued to escape them. That changed in 2018/19,
when Virat Kohli’s team finally broke this barrier. India won the four-Test series 2-1 and became the first Asian team to win a Test series in Australia. It was not a straightforward victory, either. Australia pushed India throughout the series, but India’s ability to recover from setbacks ultimately made the difference.
India’s Historic Australia Triumph: How did India win 2018-19 Series?
The series began in Adelaide where Cheteshwar Pujara produced one of the defining performances of the tour. After India slipped to 41/4, Pujara stayed at the crease for more than six hours and scored 123. He followed it with 71 in the second innings, helping India set Australia a target of 323. The hosts came close but India’s bowlers held their nerve and secured a 31-run victory. It was India’s first Test win in Australia in a decade.
Wanna watch the full highlights Pujara’s knock again? #20in2020
You can right here: https://t.co/kkPDZNWIVa pic.twitter.com/TP3BzfTT0b
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) June 4, 2020
Australia responded strongly in the Second Test at Perth. Nathan Lyon produced a superb performance as Australia won the second Test by 146 runs, bringing the series level at 1-1. Suddenly, India’s historic opportunity to win a series down under was under pressure. The third Test at Melbourne changed the series. The Boxing Day Test at the MCG proved to be the turning point. India’s batting was again led by Pujara who scored 106 and the pace attack kept Australia under constant pressure. India eventually won by 137 runs to take a 2-1 lead.
For Australia, the final Test was now a must-win. Whereas for India, a draw would be enough to make history. That is exactly what happened in Sydney. Pujara produced another marathon innings, scoring 193, while India piled up a huge total. Consistent rain meant that the match ended in a draw but that was enough as India won the series 2-1 and this was their first ever series win in Australia.
A victory built around Cheteshwar Pujara and pacers under captaincy of Virat Kohli
Pujara finished the series with 521 runs, comfortably the leading run-scorer and was named Player of the Series. Jasprit Bumrah led India’s bowling with 21 wickets, matching Australia’s Nathan Lyon. The achievement was bigger than the numbers. India had travelled to Australia many times before, watched promising series slip away and returned home without the prize. This time they had the batting patience, a relentless pace attack and the resilience to respond whenever Australia fought back. It was Kohli’s defining achievement as Test captain and a landmark moment for Indian cricket as they became the first time an Asian team had won a Test series in Australia.
