RANCHI: The India head coach and former India No.3 had embraced the current No. 3 with a tight hug.
The emotions, understandably, were running high. And why not, less than 48 hours after being almost down and out, India has bounced to win, not just the Ranchi Test, but also seal the five-match series against England with a 3-1 lead.
Watching Dravid embrace Gill, and then Dhruv Jurel, it was hard not draw parallels to Adelaide’s 2003 victory. The current No. 3 walked in at a tricky situation, wearing a cap, watched Rohit Sharma, Rajat Patidar, Ravindra Jadeja and Sarfaraz Khan walk back with India still needing 72 runs to win with five wickets in hand. The pitch was not easy to bat on and things could either way in the blink of an eye.
Gill, along with Jurel, showed no nerves, worked singles as they kept the scoreboard moving. There were the occasional appeals and reviews, but the No. 3 batter provided the solidity the team needed. To put into context, Gill’s first boundary came off the 120th ball he faced when India needed just 20 runs. From thereon, it was only a matter of time as the young batters added an unbeaten stand of 72 to get India home. The celebrations as they ran the final two, hands aloft, high-fiving in the middle of a run with Gill in a cap will stay with everyone. It will be remembered with fondness by those who have witnessed the famous Adelaide 2003 win as well.
In many ways, it was only fitting that Gill (52 n.o) and Jurel (39 n.o) were the ones to rescue India and seal the series with a five-wicket win. This series has been about India’s transition. And in Ranchi, from staring at a huge first innings deficit after day two to winning the match on day four afternoon sums up their bench strength. “In the next five years, some of these players are going to play for India regularly in this format,” Rohit would say after the match.
Among other things, this series is also proof of what India are made of in home Tests and why they continue to remain giants, and the team to beat.
