MUMBAI: Virat Kohli made history on Monday becoming the first captain to lead India to a Test series win in Australia, ending a 71-year wait.
Persistent rain on the last two days of the fourth Test in Sydney washed away a dominant India’s chances of victory, with the world’s number one Test team eventually having to settle for a 2-1 final scoreline.
In 11 previous attempts, India had drawn a series in the longest format only twice, while losing nine. Bishan Singh Bedi had led India to a series draw on the 1977-78 tour, after which Sourav Ganguly had done the same on the 2003-04 tour.
While skipper Kohli hit the best hundred of the series in terms of sheer class on a difficult Perth Stadium track, Cheteshwar Pujara (521) and the unconventional Jasprit Bumrah (21 wickets) were the standout performers of the memorable ‘first’.
Alongside Ajit Wadekar’s side’s twin triumph in the West Indies and England in 1971, Kapil’s Devils or Rahul Dravid’s sides’ winning the 1986 or 2007 series in England, the members of the current side have now successfully etched their names in record books.
Kohli referred to winning the series as the greatest achievement of his cricketing career, while expressing his joy at leading this unit.
“Only one word to say, I’m proud. To lead these players is an honour and a privilege. They make the captain look good. Definitely deserve to enjoy this moment. By far this is my best achievement. Has to be on top of the pile,” he said in the post match ceremony.
“When we won the World Cup (in 2011), I was a young player. I saw the others getting emotional. This series will give us a different identity as a team. What we’ve been able to achieve is something to be really proud of,” he added.
