Australia vs India 2020-21, 3rd Test: 10 Hilarious memes from the game

Years from now, when Hanuma Vihari and Ravichandran Ashwin are asked about their best batting effort, they might mention an innings where neither of them was able to score a fifty. The partnership between the two at the Sydney Cricket Ground on day five of the third Test ensured India didn’t slip to a loss. After winning the Boxing Day Test match a week ago, India would have hoped for another win to assure them with the Border Gavaskar Trophy. However, a drawn result was something India was desperately hoping for going into the last day’s play in Sydney.

After having an edge for most of the time during the Test match, the hosts were eyeing a victory to go ahead in the series. But, India batted for 131 overs in the final innings to draw the match and keep it 1-1, going into the final Test in Brisbane. 

India battle for 131 overs in the final innings to script a remarkable comeback

India was pushed on the backfoot by the Aussies on the first two days of the match after they won the toss and put up a competitive total of 338. Steve Smith’s poor run of form in the series ended as he notched up his 27th Test ton. Marnus Labuschagne also scored a valiant 91 while debutant Will Pucovski also scored his maiden fifty. Ravindra Jadeja’s four-for kept India in the battle as the middle and lower order of the hosts couldn’t hold the crease for long. 

India’s first innings batting card didn’t have any standout knock. Scores of exact 50 runs from Cheteshwar Pujara and Shubman Gill were not enough as the hosts solidified their position with a 94-run lead. 

Smith and Labuschagne came to the party once again with a century stand as they got past the fifties. Cameron Green scored his maiden fifty and his quickfire knock meant the Aussies declared with a lead over 400 runs. India needed some special batting efforts to get to this total, but they had to negate close to 135 overs, even if they wanted to draw the match. 

The innings started with a positive opening partnership by Gill and Rohit Sharma. The vice-captain got his fifty but Gill failed to capitalize on the start. Pujara was rock solid going into the fifth day, but it was Rishabh Pant who changed gears and put the hosts on the backfoot. The dashing wicketkeeper smashed 97 runs off just 118 balls, with 12 fours and three sixes. However, once Pant got, Pujara tried to keep up the flow of runs. His eventual departure for 77 meant that India was staring down a defeat with still 40-odd overs to go. 

However, the unlikely happened as Vihari fought a hamstring injury to bat 161 balls for his 23. Ashwin, on the other hand, battled for 128 balls for his 39. At the start of the tour, both these players were touted as the key members, however, no one would have predicted the nature in which they would become heroes for India. 

Here are the best memes from the match