Indian skipper Virat Kohli, on Sunday, heaped high praises on the heroes of the Day 3 play – Shardul Thakur and Washington Sundar. Both of the debutants are receiving appreciation comments from the cricket fraternity.
Debutant Sundar and Thakur, playing his 2nd Test, put on 123 runs off 217 balls for the 7th wicket to bring India back in the match. The visitors were reeling at 186 for 6 when Sundar and Shardul came together and turned the things around.
The duo smashed their maiden Test fifties and took India past the 300-run mark. After playing a brilliant knock of 67, the highest score for the visitors in this innings, Shardul was dismissed by Pat Cummins. Sundar, on the other hand, kept fighting for six more overs before he got bounced out by Mitchell Starc for 62.
Not just this, the duo has broken the 30-year-old record of Kapil Dev and Manoj Prabhakar of having the highest partnership for the 7th wicket for India at the Gabba. Washington Sundar’s score was also the third-highest by an Indian while batting at Number 7 on debut.
“Outstanding application and belief by @Sundarwashi and @imShard. This is what test cricket is all about. Washy top composure on debut and tula parat maanla re Thakur (hats off to you Thakur)!” Kohli tweeted.
Except, Sundar and Shardul – the only two half-centurions, Rohit Sharma (44), Mayank Agarwal (38) and Ajinkya Rahane (37) were the other major contributors for visitors on Sunday. India was eventually bowled out for 336 in reply to Australia’s first innings score of 369.
From 36-all out in Adelaide to posting 336 after being pushed on the backfoot in Brisbane, the story of this fascinating series has been India’s never-say-die attitude.
