Twitter Reactions: India seal a historic win at the MCG to go 2-1 up in the series

It took only 27 deliveries for India to win the game.

Published - 30 Dec 2018, 08:16 IST | Updated - 30 Dec 2018, 08:16 IST

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The fifth day was going to be nervy for India with the rain around. There were 60 percent chances of rain on the final morning and unlike the fourth day, the heavens opened up. One felt that it will be a passing shower but just when the play was set to resume there was a huge outburst of rain. This was another glimmer of hope for Australia to escape with a draw in Melbourne but may be the heavenly gods wanted all the fans back in India to wake up and witness the history.

The first session of the day was washed out and when the rain finally stopped, an excellent drainage system in place at the MCG made the play start at 7.30 IST, the perfect time in India. The Australian unbeaten pair of Pat Cummins, the hero of the game for the hosts, and Nathan Lyon walked out to bat to stay determined like they did late on the fourth day.

Only 27 balls on the fifth day

It was only a matter of time for the fresh Indian bowlers to seal a historic win but there was always a fear of rain and the way Australia’s lower order was defying the odds, anything could’ve happened if they had stuck around. But it wasn’t to be. Jasprit Bumrah got rid of Cummins with a brilliant delivery which pitched on length and just moved away to force the batsman to poke at it.

Cheteshwar Pujara didn’t miss the chance in the second slip as the Indian crowd at the MCG roared vociferously. The last wicket didn’t hang around for much as Ishant Sharma bounced out Lyon as India needed only 27 deliveries to skittle Australia on the fifth day.

India won the game by 137 runs to go 2-1 up in the series and are in sight of creating history as they can now win their first ever Test series down under.

Here’s how Twitter reacted after the victory:

37 years 10 months ago was the last time India won a test at the MCG, none of the players from either sides were born. This win is one to savour & cherish for a long time and a perfect end to 2018 for Team India. Each player can be very proud of their contribution to this win👍
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) December 30, 2018

What an unbelievably amazing 18 months it has been as a bowling unit. @Jaspritbumrah93 is such a gem to Indian cricket. He has been Ably aided by Ishant, Shami, Umesh, Ashwin and Jadeja. Without doubt this is BEST we have had in a very long time. #AUSvIND
— Hemang Badani (@hemangkbadani) December 30, 2018

Congratulations @BCCI Very good win … and am glad they won !!!
— Russel Arnold (@RusselArnold69) December 30, 2018

Australian Pacers: 37 wickets
Average: 24.5
S/R: 56.3
Indian Pace Trio: 45 wickets
Average: 20.2
S/R: 47
Best Indian Fast Bowling unit to your Down Under. Take a bow 🙇‍♂️ #AusvInd #7cricket @7Cricket
Stats: @sirswampthing
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) December 30, 2018

Congratulations Team India. What a splendid performance.@ bcci @StarSportsIndia
— ramesh powar (@imrameshpowar) December 30, 2018

Many congratulations for a fabulous win ,Team India. @RaviShastriOfc @BCCI
— Laxman Sivaramakrishnan (@LaxmanSivarama1) December 30, 2018

Most wins for India outside Asia in a calendar year in Tests:
4 – 2018*
3 – 1968#AUSvIND
— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) December 30, 2018

Kohli leads the team around the ground to thank the fans for their support. #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/Xl0GZZSgy1
— Anand Vasu (@anandvasu) December 30, 2018

.@RishabPant777 now holds the record for the most dismissals for an Indian keeper in a Test series, with his 20th catch! 🙌#AUSvIND #ThisIsNewDelhi #DelhiCapitals
— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) December 30, 2018

Thanks @tdpaine36 @MacquarieSport for taking the time to chat with us. Good luck in Sydney lads. @cricketcomau . India too good in this test @BCCI https://t.co/PUXNpXTaEb
— Darren Lehmann (@darren_lehmann) December 30, 2018

Best bowling match figures for an IND bowler in Australia
12-104 – Bhagwat Chandrasekhar – 1977 MCG
12-279 – Anil Kumble – 2004 SCG
10-194 – Bishan Bedi – 1977 WACA
9-86 – JASPRIT BUMRAH – 2018 @MCG
8-109 – Kapil Dev – 1985 ADEL
@BCCI #AUSvIND @cricketcomau
— Swamp (@sirswampthing) December 30, 2018

Biggest factor, of course, was bowling attack led by @Jaspritbumrah93 . His sensational spell helped India to massive first innings lead. Nine wickets in the Test, he delivered every time ball was thrown at him. Bumrah is my MoM.
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) December 30, 2018

Asian sides winning more than one Test in a series in Australia:
India (2) in 1977-78
India (2) in 2018-19#AUSvIND #AUSvsIND
— Rajneesh Gupta (@rgcricket) December 30, 2018

Bowling out opposition most times in a calendar year in Test cricket:
26 – Australia in 2005 (30 inns)
25 – South Africa in 2008 (28 inns)
25 – INDIA in 2018 (27 inns)#AUSvIND
— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) December 30, 2018

Nice that there’s still appreciation & room in the game for the “quiet achiever”;Jasprit Bumrah’s not far off becoming the “gold standard”. Pujara proving that those who critique his scoring rate don’t quite grasp his significance to an evolving India batting lineup.
— ian bishop (@irbishi) December 30, 2018

Top stuff 🇮🇳 2-1 up in the series #AUSvIND test series well done @Jaspritbumrah93 @cheteshwar1 @imVkohli proud of you guys.. make it 3-1 congratulations…Team india @BCCI
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) December 30, 2018

India's four Test away wins in 2018
v South Africa, Johannesburg
v England, Trent Bridge
v Australia, Adelaide
v Australia, Melbourne
And Cheteshwar Pujara scored 50-plus runs in each of the four Tests.#AUSvIND
— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) December 30, 2018

Most away Test wins as captain for India
11 – Saurav Ganguly (in 28 Tests)
11 – Virat Kohli (in 24 Tests)#AusvInd #AusvsInd
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) December 30, 2018

Indian seamers end 2018 with 179 wickets. They've never taken more in a calendar year.
They also end with a bowling average of 23.70. Only three times in their history have they averaged less, and in those years they took 43, 9, and 7 wickets.
This attack is historic. #AUSvIND
— The Cricket Prof. (@CricProf) December 30, 2018

All in 2018:
Virat Kohli has hit centuries in South Africa, England, Australia.
Jasprit Bumrah has taken 5 in South Africa, England, Australia.
India have won Tests in South Africa, England, Australia.
Just need to win first-ever series in Australia to start 2019. #AUSvIND
— Saurabh Somani (@saurabh_42) December 30, 2018

Most Test wickets outside the home for a Team's pacers in a calendar year:
189 wickets – Windies in 1980
158 wickets – INDIA in 2018
156 wickets – Windies in 1984
152 wickets – Windies in 1988#AUSvIND
— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) December 30, 2018

Virat is pumped.#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/V4HsQxIeYU
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 30, 2018

Contribution of debutant Mayank Agarwal must be acknowledged too. Batted with skill and maturity in both innings, took a couple of great catches
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) December 30, 2018

Very convincing win from 🇮🇳 congratulations. For 🇦🇺 @patcummins30 was the standout 🏏
— Michael Clarke (@MClarke23) December 30, 2018

Done it 😊🙌🤗👏 #AusvInd #7cricket
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) December 30, 2018

Congratulations, India, on retaining the Cummins-Gavaskar Trophy. #CUMvIND
— Dan Liebke (@LiebCricket) December 30, 2018

And that's a wrap on Melbourne! What a rollercoaster of a game it has been. Games like these bring out the true beauty of test cricket. Thank you all for your wishes. Ending 2018 with this lovely memory. On to the final one now! #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/durwAO5HmC
— cheteshwar pujara (@cheteshwar1) December 30, 2018