The much-anticipated Test series between India and Australia got underway in Adelaide from December 6 and as expected, fit its billing. The first Test had everything that a cricket fan would have asked for - a one-handed stunner, a breathtaking run out, defiance from batsmen, some good old-fashioned banter between the sides and a thrilling end.
As India celebrated a 31-run victory against Australia in the first Test in Adelaide, captain Virat Kohli shed light on how while the rest of the dressing room was in a joyous mood, Ishant Sharma was rather cross with himself.
Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting said that Tim Paine and the Australian management should stick to the same XI and the batting order for the second Test against India. The 43-year-old reckoned that making any change just one Test into the series would be an overreaction to the Adelaide defeat.
Yet another Ranji round comes to an end, with a handful of notable performances across all groups, and a couple of farewells as well. Delhi veteran Gautam Gambhir bid adieu to competitive cricket, as did Saurashtra captain Jaydev Shah.
Virat Kohli was still in his trouser whites when the team walked off the Adelaide Oval dulled to make the leisurely stroll over the river Torrens to their hotel. It was that kind of moment, that kind of end to a Test match when you wanted to cling to the feeling and slow time down temporarily, savouring the experience of a famous win.
The opening Test in Adelaide was the first at home for Australia since the cheating row blew up in South Africa last March, leading to bans for then skipper Steve Smith and his deputy David Warner.
Virat Kohli said on Monday it was "very special" to captain India to their first Test win in Australia for a decade and gave his side crucial momentum in their bid for a maiden series victory.
The first Test between India and Australia at Adelaide went down the wire. Chasing 323, the hosts were on the brink at multiple points but the Australian lower order kept fighting to have people on the edge of their seats until Josh Hazlewood was dismissed by R Ashwin to give India a 31-run win.
India coach Ravi Shastri praised Team India for putting in a complete performance as they took a 1-0 series lead against Australia after winning the Adelaide Test by 31 runs.
This was supposed to be a summer full of dread for Australia, a series to watch through one’s fingers in anticipation of horrific sights. Surely only Toni Collette’s turn in Hereditary would challenge it as the most terrifying Australian performance of 2018. At least, such was the accepted wisdom before the campaign began.
It went down to the wire but India just about held their nerve at the end to beat Australia by 31 runs on the final day of the first Test at Adelaide to win only their sixth Test in the country.
In his first Test in Australia, Rishabh Pant rewrote the history books as he became the first Indian wicket-keeper to effect 11 dismissals in a match. Pant completed the record when Shami got Mitchell Starc caught behind in the 100th over of the second Aussie innings.
Australia's lower order delayed the inevitable with a spirited batting effort but couldn't prevent India from taking a 1-0 lead in the series with a 31-run win in the first Test in Adelaide.
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