HOW THE MIGHTY HAVE FALLEN

 Image Credit- ESPN CricInfo.

Venue- The Gabba, Brisbane [December 14-18, 2024].

In the Australian summer of 2024-25, the Indian cricket team toured Australia to play 5 test matches. The Visitors won the first test in Perth, whereas the Hosts won the second test at Adelaide. With the series poised at 1-1, both teams reached Brisbane for an important test match. Seeing the clouds all around, Indian Captain Rohit Sharma, after winning the toss, decided to field first. Interestingly, India got a wonderful start as they reduced Australians to 75/3. Bumrah was truly in the form of his life as he picked up both the openers, with Nitish picking up the wicket of Marnus Labuschagne. It seemed that India would tighten up the screws now. However, this is when Steve Smith and Travis Head came into action. The duo took the sting out of the Indian bowling as they piled runs after runs. Steve Smith scored a gritty 101 off 190 balls, whereas Travis Head scored a quickfire 152 off 160 deliveries as the Aussies ended up scoring 445 in their first innings. For Indians, it was Jasprit Bumrah who was the leading wicket taker as he picked up 6 crucial wickets. 

In response, the Indians were reeling at 74/5 when Jadeja joined KL Rahul in between. The duo batted sensibly and tried their best to avoid the follow-on. However, the Aussies continued picking up wickets at regular intervals. Jadeja, on his end, tried his best, but eventually Cummins got the better of him, as when Jadeja was dismissed, the Indian scorecard read 213/9. Still 33 runs short of the follow-on total. The last batsman, Akash Deep, joined Bumrah in between as the Aussies were gearing up. It appeared that a follow-on was surely in the cards, as the Aussie bowlers were in red-hot form. However, what happened next was something truly unbelievable. Both Bumrah and Akash Deep stood in between like a rock and avoided the follow-on in the most dramatic of manners. Furthermore, after avoiding the follow-on, Akash Deep hit a massive six, which brought joy to every fan's face. At last, it was Travis Head who got the better of Akash Deep as the Indians ended up scoring 260 in their first innings.

Due to continuous rains in between, it was almost certain that the match would end in a draw. Though there were moments when we felt that we could get a result, the rain made sure that the match ended in a draw. However, the question that might come into everyone's mind is this: When the match ended in a draw, why am I saying that the mighty have fallen? The reason being when the follow-on was avoided, there was a loud cheer in the Indian dugout. The players and the support staff literally went into a celebration mode as if we had won the test. Something that is not expected of a champion team. From winning in Gabba to celebrating that we avoided a follow-on. Truly the mighty have fallen from the crown.

To watch the knock of Steve Smith, Click Here.

To watch the knock of Travis Head, Click Here.

To watch the spell of Jasprit Bumrah, Click Here.