India pulls off unthinkable, miracle win over Australia at the Gabba

India has completed mission impossible to beat Australia at the Gabba in one of the wildest final days of Test cricket the world's ever seen.

India has done the impossible to knock over Fortress Gabba in one of the greatest series wins in modern cricket history.

In a thrilling final session, India started looking for quick runs in the dramatic final hour of play with Rishabh Pant picking apart every member of the Aussie attack – other than weapon Pat Cummins.

Pant’s electric 89 not out and Shubman Gill’s earlier 91 got India over the line in the greatest run chase ever seen at the Gabba – a result that ends Australia’s 32 year undefeated stretch in Brisbane.

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They did it with a second string side too.

No Kohli, No Ashwin, No Bumrah. No worries.

There were plenty of nervous moments for the Indians at the death, however, with Pant given the task of needing 53 runs from the final 10 overs – and with five wickets in hand.

He made it look easy.

Pant guided India past the required total of 328 with three overs to spare – giving India a truly historic three wicket win.

Even more astounding is the victory gives India two consecutive victories on Australian soil and sees them retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in one of the bravest tours to grace Australia.

Indian legend Sunil Gavaskar explained what the win meant to India in commentary on Channel 7, describing it as “India's most famous series victory ever”.

“Despite the win two years ago, in their heart of hearts they would have known without David Warner and Steve Smith it would have been just that little bit easy," he said.

"Now that David Warner and Smith are there, this is the one."

Aussie legend Ricky Ponting also described what the loss means for Australia.

“You can't speak highly enough of India, it is as simple as that,” he said. 

“I said yesterday on air it looked like this game might be a draw and even if it was a draw, that would be a worse result for Australia than when they lost two years ago. We all sat back and said India got us when we were at our weakest without David Warner and Smith there.

"But guess what, David Warner and Smith have been there, our entire bowling brigade has been there, and India have been the exact opposite. So if Australia go on to lose this game, it will hurt, it will dig really deep."

There was  high drama early which saw Cheteshwar Pujara escape an LBW appeal, despite the ball clearly going on to smash into the stumps.

It continued in the second session with a brutal spell of bowling from Cummins and Josh Hazelwood leaving the tourists battered and bruised. Despite the punishment, India's batsmen showed courage under fire to move to 3-183 at the tea break.

Pat Cummins continued to be Australia's only threat when he took up the new ball to dismiss Cheteshwar Pujara and Mayank Agarwal- but India continued to creep towards a miracle fourth innings chase at 5-265. In the final over India lost their seventh wicket, still needing three runs to win. 

The winning runs were hit by Pant, triggering wild celebrations from the Indian team.

Wow. WOW.

For the first time in more than three decades, Australia are beaten at the Gabba.

Which means, against ALL odds, India win the series 2-1! Unbelievable scenes 😮#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/KJyD7zu0rM

— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) January 19, 2021

The fourth innings chase smashed the previous highest fourth innings chase record at the Gabba- 236 runs set in 1951 - by almost 100 runs.

Aussie legend Shane Warne also said the victory for India would is one of the greatest Test wins in Indian cricket history after fighting back from a 1-0 series deficit and losing half of their first-string stars, including Kohli.

"That’s as good a test match win as I can remember. I can’t remember a better test match win in recent times," he told Fox Cricket.

"There’ll be plenty of questions and plenty of fall out for the Australians, but let’s just take a moment to appreciate India."

While Australia captured four wickets in the final session of the series, they were made to pay the price for losing their way earlier on Day 5 with Pat Cummins and Josh Hazelwood the only bowlers looking dangerous. 

Cummins was a machine throughout the series and his figures of 4-55 were enough for him to hold onto the high honours of being named player of the series. His heroics couldn't cover up the cracks of the slumping Aussie attack that included Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Starc both lacking punch and direction with the ball in hand.

The wilting Aussie attack is just one of many areas of concern that will give Australian selectors sleepless nights in the build up to the Tour of South Africa coming up.

Aussie captain Tim Paine looked a tired, defeated captain when he summed up the series at the end of the match by simply saying India was the better team this series.

Here is how the drama unfolded earlier.