India have left the whole cricketing world awe-struck after it notched a 2-1 series win post the Adelaide loss where it was bundled out for just 36 – their lowest ever Test score. They missed their frontline players, including regular captain Virat Kohli and six other first-XI players, going into the decider at Brisbane, and fought tooth and nail to win the match, and the series 2-1.
During the course of the series, there were a few interesting statistics and strange coincidences. Cricwizz takes a look.
The curse of 33
Australia took a minor 33-run lead in the Brisbane Test and lost the match. The last two times Australia took a lead of 33 runs against India, they lost both the Tests. The first instance was in the Kanpur Test in 1979, and the second time it was in the Adelaide Test in 2003.
Invincible Rahane
Ajinkya Rahane, who captained India in the three Tests in the series, have an unbeaten record as captain in Tests. In 5 matches, he has led India to 4 wins, and 1 draw. Three of those wins came against Australia and the fourth against Afghanistan.
Double-digit woes
Not a single Indian player reached double figures when India were bowled out for just 36 in the second innings of Adelaide Test – just the second instance in Test cricket so far. The first instance was when South Africa were bowled out for 30 against England at Edgbaston in 1924. But in that Test, extras were in double figures - 11. But, there were no extras in Adelaide Test.
20 players
India fielded 20 players in the Test series - the most by any team in an away Test series. India also handed Test caps to 5 debutants in the series.
999
When Rishabh Pant was out for 23 in the first innings of the Brisbane Test, his total runs in Test cricket then stood exactly at 999.
Thakur's magic
Shardul Thakur's first ball in Test cricket in Australia earned him a wicket. It was the wicket of Marcus Harris in the first innings. It was also his maiden Test wicket, which came in his 2nd Test.
1020 wickets gap
India's five main bowlers in the Brisbane Test had a total combined tally of just 13 wickets. In comparison, Australia's four bowlers had a combined tally of 1033 wickets - a difference of 1020 wickets.
Longest fourth-innings in 40 years
India batted 131 overs in the fourth innings of the Sydney Test - their longest fourth innings in 40 years. The last time India batted longer than Sydney Test in the fourth innings was The Oval Test against England in 1979 when India batted 150 overs to save the match.
Cover image photo courtesy: ICC Facebook page