Australia beat India by 333 runs on Saturday in an outstanding victory that ended the hosts’ winning streak of 19 Tests in the opening match of the series in Pune.
Chasing a daunting 441, the world’s top side crashed to 107 all out early in the final session after left-arm spinner Steve O’Keefe’s match haul of 12 wickets, handing number-two ranked Australia the upset win inside three days.
O’Keefe’s heroics enabled Australia to register their first Test win on Indian soil since 2004 as they took a 1-0 lead in the four-match series.
The 32-year-old returned with impressive figures of 6-35 (in both the innings) as he got good support from off spinner Nathan Lyon, who bagged six wickets at India’s newest Test venue.
Former Australian cricketers, who know a thing or two about how tough it is to win in India, were delighted:
Incredible Aussie performance in Pune. So happy for Steve O’Keefe!He has toiled so hard for this👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻. @stevesmith49 amazing 100 too.
— Shane Watson (@ShaneRWatson33) February 25, 2017
Aust, you beauty! Celebrate like there is no tomorrow. Then tomorrow, start focusing on the next one. @CricketAus 🏏🔥🇦🇺🍾🍻
— Adam Gilchrist (@gilly381) February 25, 2017
You ripper Australia! Brilliant test match and the perfect way to start the test series. #INDvAUS
— Mitchell Johnson (@MitchJohnson398) February 25, 2017
Good wake up call this for India.Track with too much spin evens the advantage.Congratulations to Australia for a fantastic victory#IndvAus
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) February 25, 2017
There was a pitch and two teams played on it. Australia played 182 overs and India played 74 overs. Tells the story of the match.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) February 25, 2017
India, for the right reasons, started overwhelming favourites. This is an astonishing result for Australia. The underdog has his day.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) February 25, 2017
When u get trapped in ur own Trap 🙊 #SOK LEGEND #INDvAUS #straya 🇦🇺 #1/0 enjoy boys, what a brilliant victory…Australia u little Beauty 😍
— Fawad Ahmed (@bachaji23) February 25, 2017
Haven’t felt this dejected since the 2003 World Cup final.
— SMV (@poisonaavi) February 25, 2017
There was a word of advice from a former England captain
Prepare a Beach India and you bring the opposition into the game … my thoughts on cricket for the day … #JustSaying #IndvAus
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) February 25, 2017
Yeh toh trial match tha series ka 😂😂😭😭
— dorku (@Dorkstar) February 25, 2017
Moral Victory: Nathan Lyon not letting Steve O’Keefe break more records.
— Trendulkar (@Trendulkar) February 25, 2017
India badly missed a quality spinner like Rajdeep Sardesai in this test match.#INDvsAUS
— Phd in Bak*****!! (@Atheist_Krishna) February 25, 2017
In this match, the entire Indian team managed to hit just 1 six. Steve O Keefe alone, has hit 2 sixes, that too while bowling. #IndvsAus
— Sagar (@sagarcasm) February 25, 2017
You vs the guy she told you not to worry about #IndvAus pic.twitter.com/SKMXFr2qTm
— Ryan (@rm_rm_rm_rm_rm) February 25, 2017
Feels Like Watching Gully Cricket. Nobody Is Ready To Admit He’s Out.Both Reviews Wasted.2 Wkts Gone.KL Rahul Gone For 10.#INDvAUS #INDvsAUS
— Sir Ravindra Jadeja (@SirJadeja) February 25, 2017
India trying to clean sweep Australia.. #IndvAus pic.twitter.com/QCmUoICzXF
— Chirayu Gupta (@TimelessSteel) February 25, 2017
Dhoni somewhere right now.
#INDvsAUS pic.twitter.com/c3qRdNLmiR— Phd in Bak*****!! (@Atheist_Krishna) February 25, 2017
Bring Back Shikhar Dhawan.Does Clean Bhumi Pujan Without Wasting Any Review.(Murali Vijay & KL Rahul Wasted Both Reviews)#INDvAUS #INDvsAUS pic.twitter.com/NIJephitl5
— Sir Ravindra Jadeja (@SirJadeja) February 25, 2017
Indian cricket team’s batting performance during this match. #IndvAus pic.twitter.com/FiyIQit1px
— Kachra Peti (@kachra_peti) February 25, 2017
India is playing like that Engineer who does mechanical miracles on site but can’t repair fan at home. #IndvAus
— Godman Chikna (@Madan_Chikna) February 25, 2017
Good friends make even difficult times easier. It’s disappointing but r you a good friend?
Time to be a good friend&continue to support Team— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) February 25, 2017
Koi baat nahin. Abhi teen aur baaki hain. We are still behind you boys 🇮🇳 #IndvAus
— Gaurav Kapur (@gauravkapur) February 25, 2017
We must look at this loss as an aberration though. It will be unfair to this Indian team, if we looked at it any other way.#INDvAUS
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) February 25, 2017
“By the power of Greyskull! I am He-Man!“ pic.twitter.com/3i1g00tKsg
— Dennishant Sharma (@DennisCricket_) February 25, 2017
That should count as two wins. #INDvAUS
— Titus O’Reily (@TitusOReily) February 25, 2017
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) February 25, 2017
With AFP inputs
