After getting humiliated in the first test, India has bounced back valiantly to comfortably win the second test against Australia. This was not just another win that India is used to at this point. It was the most impressive win seen in a long long time.

This Indians team was without Kohli, Ishant and Shami. Umesh Yadav got injured at the start of the second innings. There were two players making their debuts against the number 1 ranked Test side at their home ground. If any other team came to India without their best batsman and two main bowlers they wouldn’t have won a session let alone the match but here we are. India won the match and it was not even close. India dominated Australia in their own backyard with an inexperienced team after a humiliating defeat in the last match. The scorecard of the India vs Australia 2nd Test match is as follows.

Michael Vaughan who predicted a 4-0 whitewash to India has to eat up his words after India’s win. He had this to say.

Siraj a revelation?

Mohammad Siraj’s stats read like this after the game

36-8-77-5

Mind you, this was his debut test match and that too in foreign conditions. He has not only shown that he’s up for the challenge but instead got the game by the scruff of the neck. His stats look even more impressive when compared against Bumrah’s 43-10-110-6 and Ashwin’s 64-13-106-5. These two are the most experienced Indian bowlers at the moment and for him to match them is highly commendable.

Siraj’s performance is no surprise to those who have seen his first-class record. For context, he has taken 157 wickets in just 39 games with a best of 8/59 in First-class cricket. Many fans were opposing his selection in Tests based on his IPL performance, the same way they were asking for KL Rahul to be selected. IPL performance, however, is no indication of a players success in Test matches as much as first-class cricket is. KL Rahul has been immense in the IPL but he hasn’t shown similar performances with the red ball cricket which is why Gill and Shaw were chosen ahead of him.

Rohit’s selection dilemma

Now that the team has won impressively in Australia after a humiliating defeat will the selectors disturb the equilibrium of the team but selecting Rohit Sharma? He has been reportedly fit for the next match and should come back straight to the playing XI as he’s our incumbent opener, but it would mean that Gill, Mayank or Vihari would have to make way for him. Will the sectors give long ropes to Mayank and Vihari or remove one to make way for arguably the best limited-overs batsmen in the world? Would be interesting to see.