When Ashwin & Hanuma Vihari Had Lose Blood & Sweat To Drew Famous SCG Test

image-lr93gcpoWhen R. Ashwin and Hanuma Vihari (X.COM)

Ravichandran Ashwin and Hanuma Vihari displayed remarkable resilience by frustrating the mighty Australian bowling attack for 42.4 overs, ultimately achieving a memorable and hard-fought draw. India's Border-Gavaskar 2020-21 Trophy win in Australia was an unprecedented moment in the country's cricket history. 

The Indian team's lowest-ever test score of 36 in the first Test in Adelaide was a rude awakening, but the squad showed resilience and determination. Despite injuries to key players, the team held its ground and emerged victorious, proving its mettle and grit. 

In the final match, despite suffering from a hamstring injury, Vihari played a phenomenal innings of an unbeaten 161-ball 23, while Ashwin contributed 39* off 128 balls. Their unbroken partnership of 62 runs proved to be the game-changer as they snuffed out Australia's chances of winning and helped India save the contest. The stand was not about scoring runs; it was about survival, about saving the game one ball at a time.


When R.Ashwin said the pair was 'numb and blank'

"In fact, both of us went numb and blank for a while; we didn't even celebrate towards the end because we didn't know what to make of it.I am not sure if runs were very awfully important in that partnership. It was more about batting time. Whenever we are comfortable with a certain bowler in a certain spell then we wanted to hang on that side especially with his hamstring injury and my back. Also we didn't really want to keep chopping and changing and losing our concentration or playing a shot or two. We really hung in tight. Because we were so channelised in taking on a certain particular bowler and keep blocking, keep dead batting him."

The partnership between Ashwin and Vihari was a shining example of Test-saving battership, a skill that is becoming increasingly rare in the fast-paced world of cricket. Their performance demonstrated the immense mental toughness required to succeed at the highest level of the game. 

Effective communication between the two players proved pivotal as they navigated their way through the tough conditions and against the formidable Australian bowling lineup.