Twitter Reactions: Rishabh Pant's heroics, Pujara, Ashwin, Vihari’s resilience secure improbable draw for Team India in Sydney

Going into the final day of the third Sydney Test, Australia had the upper hand after picking up three wickets in India’s second innings. For the visiting team, survival seemed to be the road forward on the fifth day with a massive 309 runs ahead of them. But with the odds against them, Ajinkya Rahane and Co came out with a positive mindset and made the hosts sweat for every other wicket.

In the end, India managed to eke out a draw and kept the series levelled at 1-1. Though their numbers at The Gabba in Brisbane aren’t the best, India would be hopeful of turning their fortunes around with another spirited approach. On the last day’s play, the pitch at the Sydney Cricket Ground didn’t show any demons whatsoever and all Australia could pick up was a mere two wickets.

India ‘bore’ Australia into submission

The story of the Indian batting had two parts. Even as Cheteshwar Pujara, Hanuma Vihari and Ravi Ashwin ‘bored’ the Aussies into submission, Rishabh Pant threw the kitchen sink at everything. Pant hammered his way to a 118-ball 97 before he perished to Nathan Lyon. Pant’s onslaught, which was laced with 12 fours and three sixes, almost gave India hopes of pulling off an improbable heist.

Pant’s attacking instinct rubbed off positively on Pujara as well as the latter, once, hit Pat Cummins for three fours in a row. But when Pujara was dismissed for a 205-ball 75, the pendulum swung in Australia’s favour. With Ravindra Jadeja injured, the onus was on Ashwin and Vihari to put their heads down and take India to the draw. One more wicket would have exposed India’s fragile tail.

From there on, Vihari and Ashwin denied the Aussies even a single wicket for the next 30 overs or so. Vihari was struggling with an injury, but he carried on batting and stayed unbeaten on 23 off 160 balls. Ashwin’s batting has gone downhill after the rise of Ravindra Jadeja- the batsman.

However, he showed a great amount of patience and notched an unbeaten 39 runs off 128 balls with seven fours. With one over left, and the Aussies needing five wickets, the teams shook hands, realising that a result wasn’t in the offing. Vihari and Ashwin were beaming with pride at the end of the game.

Here’s how the netizens reacted –