'Gabba is Australia’s fortress but there is always a first time' - Sunil Gavaskar backs India for historic win in 4th Test

In a stunning rearguard action that will be remembered for a long time, Hanuma Vihari and Ravichandran Ashwin played out 42.4 overs and kept the Australian bowlers at bay at the Sydney Cricket Ground. India played out a total of 131 overs, losing just 5 wickets in the second innings as the Third Test ended in a draw.

Cheteshwar Pujara scored a defiant 77 and Rishabh Pant scored a dazzling 97 off just 118 balls as the visitors proved that they can stand up to the challenges hurled at them by the Australians. The bandwagon now moves to The Gabba in Brisbane, where the fourth and final Test will be played, with the series currently locked at 1-1.

Sunil Gavaskar heaped praise on the Indian cricket team, and said that he honestly did not expect the Indian side to survive even till the tea break on Day 5. The batting legend also spoke highly of Rishabh Pant and stated that he unsettled Nathan Lyon. Gavaskar then said that he was extremely proud of the way Cheteshwar Pujara batted, and added that it would be a perfect tribute to Rahul Dravid, who celebrated his 48^th birthday on 11 January.

“I wasn’t very certain that they would be even able to survive up to tea. But then, Rishabh Pant came in and went down the pitch to try and hit Nathan Lyon for those big sixes, threw him off his line and length. And then, Cheteshwar Pujara. He is the wall. Today is the original wall, Rahul Dravid’s birthday, and how happy he would be that his birthday is celebrated with one of the most famous fightbacks in Indian cricket history,” said a beaming Gavaskar to India Today.

India have the ability to take on the Australians at Gabba: Sunil Gavaskar

Gavaskar even declared that India will go on to win the series and breach the seemingly invincible Australian fortress in Brisbane as there is always a ‘first time’ to everything. The ‘Little Master’ concluded by emphatically stating that India will win the series 2-1 and retain the Border Gavaskar Trophy.

“I predicted on Australian television that India is going to win the series 2-1. At the moment the series is 1-1. I know that the Gabba in Brisbane is Australia’s fortress but India have the ability to take on the Australians. They (Australia) have hardly lost there since 1988 but there is always a first time. If Ajinkya Rahane and company do it, I won’t be surprised at all,” concluded Gavaskar.