The Indian cricket team registered a brilliant win against Australia on the fifth and final day of the opening Test at the Adelaide Oval on Monday, in the process ending a 10-year-wait for a Test win Down Under. With the win, India took a 1-0 lead in the four-match series having also managed to win the first Test of a series in Australia for the first time ever. Skipper Kohli lauded his team for their ‘collective’ show and said that India deserved to win the Test match in Adelaide.
Kohli was all praise for his bowlers, who chipped in equally to win the game for the visitors. “Super proud (of the bowlers), to have four bowlers and take 20 wickets is a great achievement. Something that we haven’t done in the past. Shows us that if the batsmen step up regularly, we will be gunning for a win in every Test match.
“Collectively we were the better team and deserved to win,” Kohli said.
Cheteshwar Pujara who played the role of an anchor for India in both innings, was adjudged player of the match for scoring 194 runs in the match.
The 30-year-old heaped praises on the right-hander. “Priceless from Pujara, we were down and out at lunch on day 1. His grit and determination brought us back in it. We always knew that runs on the board would make the home side tentative. Any lead was gold and we got 15. In the second innings again, he and Rahane batted well,” Kohli said.`
Talking about the close finish of the Test match, Kohli said, “These things happen in Tests, ups and downs through a game. You need to just stay calm. Odds were stacked against them. They fought really well but we executed our plans well and got that last wicket which we were intending to get.”
Asked if he felt the heat, the India skipper said, “I wouldn’t say I was cool as ice but you just don’t try to show it. Jasprit was getting worked up in his last over but I just told him to relax. Super proud (of the bowlers), to have four bowlers and take 20 wickets is a great achievement. Something that we haven’t done in the past.”
“We could have added another 30-35 runs which could have taken the game totally beyond Australia’s reach,” the Indian captain further added.
The next Test starts on Thursday at the Perth Stadium in Perth.
