Praises Galore For Ashwin and Vihari in Sydney

The extraordinary comradery and prowess showed by Indian players Ravichandran Ashwin and Hanuma Vihari in the crease at the third test match against Australia in Sydney has sent cricket fans into frenzy. The duo added 62 runs facing 256 deliveries which helped India claim a historic draw against the fierce Australian side at their home ground. This memorable partnership also underscored the relevance of the old dictum test cricket is not just a game, but it many ways resembles the life itself.

Hanuma Vihari (23 not out off 161) and Ravichandran Ashwin (39 not out off 128) fought the whole day after Rishabh Pant (97 off 118 balls) and Cheteshwar Pujara (77 off 205 balls) were out creating 148-run stand.

Cricket stalwarts and pundits also hailed the determination and tenacity showed by the duo in the crease.

The cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar wrote on twitter ” “”Really proud of #TeamIndia! Special mention to @RishabhPant17, @cheteshwar1, @ashwinravi99 and @Hanumavihari for the roles they’ve played brilliantly. Any guesses in which dressing room the morale will be high? #OneTeamOneCause #AUSvIND.”

Really proud of #TeamIndia!

Special mention to @RishabhPant17, @cheteshwar1, @ashwinravi99 and @Hanumavihari for the roles they’ve played brilliantly.

Any guesses in which dressing room the morale will be high? 😀#OneTeamOneCause #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/hG60Iy6Lva

— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) January 11, 2021

Praising Ashwin and Vihari, Australian legend Ricky Ponting said, it was the best innings played by a visiting team in the Australian soil.

“There have been some good partnership over the years, Dale Steyn and JP Duminy at the MCG was a pretty big partnership in the context of that series, Rahul Dravid and VVS batted at Adelaide when he(Dravid) got 200 there and won that Test match, That would have been a big partnership. But that’s it,” Ponting said.

“We have been talking about for a while(how good the current Australian attack is), the best bowling attack in the world on day 5. With a chance to go 2-1 down, today’s (Partnership between Vihari & Ashwin) rates really highly. i think it was 259 balls they were together and when you break it down, there weren’t too many chances. Australia will be most concerned about that they didn’t create many chances for that 40 odd overs which has probably made them scratch their head a little bit. That says a bit about the pitch but also about the character and determination those two guys shown with that partnership.” Ponting added.

Loved the fight and determination of India all day today. Starting with Pant and Pujara, and then for Vihari and Ashwin to withstand Australia and look largely in control for most of the day was very impressive. Can't wait for Brisbane now. #AUSvIND

— Ricky Ponting AO (@RickyPonting) January 11, 2021

Taking to twitter BCCI president and former India captain Sourav Ganguly on Monday congratulated Ashwin and Hanuma Vihari. “Hope all of us realise the importance of pujara,pant and Ashwin in cricket teams..batting at 3 in test cricket against quality bowling is not always hitting through the line ..almost 400 test wickets don’t come just like that..well fought india..time to win the series,” Ganguly wrote on Twitter.

Hope all of us realise the importance of pujara,pant and Ashwin in cricket teams..batting at 3 in test cricket against quality bowling is not always hitting through the line ..almost 400 test wickets don't come just like that..well fought india..time to win the series @bcci

— Sourav Ganguly (@SGanguly99) January 11, 2021

Last but not least,lauding team India for their “extraordinary” performance, the governing body of the cricket (ICC) wrote: “A fitting birthday gift for Rahul Dravid. An extraordinary display of resistance, fight and patience by India today.”

A fitting birthday gift for Rahul Dravid 🎁

An extraordinary display of resistance, fight and patience by India today 🙌#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/5RLA5aqnQp

— ICC (@ICC) January 11, 2021