One for the Ages: Twitter Elated With Vihari-Ashwin Heroics at SCG

Vihari and Ashwin batted brilliantly on Day 5 of Sydney Test vs Australia to eke out a special draw.

Hanuma Vihari and R Ashwin batted brilliantly on the final day of the Sydney Test against Australia to eke out a special draw against the odds.

What made the heroic partnership of Vihari and Ashwin even more special was the fact that both had injuries while batting and battled on despite the pain and obvious discomfort.

Ashwin copped a few blows to the body from the hostile bowling by the Australians while the Vihari had hurt his hamstring and needed some medical attention before pulling off the fight back.

Before them Rishabh Pant had smashed 97 and an injured Ravindra Jadeja was waiting padded up just in case either of Vihari or Ashwin were dismissed. India with their backs to the wall produced an immense display of grit and determination to save the Test match. Vihari and Ashwin batted for 256 deliveries as they dropped anchor, and India played 131 overs to blunt the Australian bowling and come away with a sensational draw.

The nail-biting end to the Test had experts and fans swooning over the contest on social media.

#RahulDravid was in present in spirit in Sydney today. Happy birthday Jam #INDvAUS #HappyBirthdayRahulDravid

— Hemang Badani (@hemangkbadani) January 11, 2021

One for the ages ! Absolutely buzzing with this draw !! I’m guessing this is how a lot of our fans must have felt in the 60s ,70s , 80s when we weren’t the best team in the world and a draw seemed like a win . This draw gave the same joy as a win ! #BorderGavaskarTrophy #INDvAUS

— Rohan Gavaskar (@rohangava9) January 11, 2021

Never giving up. Never backing down from a challenge. Great character and resilience displayed by the team. 🇮🇳#TestCricket at its best! #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/l8CtOppu6q

— Mayank Agarwal (@mayankcricket) January 11, 2021

Test cricket.

That's it, that's the post. pic.twitter.com/zI2YXsnvBb

— ICC (@ICC) January 11, 2021

Great fightback by #TeamIndia! Special effort out there and the team showed amazing physical and mental strength.

— hardik pandya (@hardikpandya7) January 11, 2021

No Kohli
No Shami
No Ishant
No Jadeja to bat or bowl halfway through Test
Pacers combined experience of 20 Tests
Incident with the crowd & Siraj
Vihari batting on one leg for 4 hours
Ashwin wearing bruises on his body like a badge for 3.5 hours

This is epic by India. #INDvAUS

— Saurabh Somani (@saurabh_42) January 11, 2021

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

A win or a loss defines the result in a test match... but an effort like this defines the character of the team. Resilience, defiance, mental strength and skill at its best. Well done India. Well done to all as they rose to the occasion.Test at its best.Brilliant! @BCCI #INDvAUS

— Anjum Chopra (@chopraanjum) January 11, 2021

India utterly superb. But Australia have to ask themselves some serious questions about how an attack that good can take five wickets in 131 overs. #AUSvIND

— Ben Jones (@benjonescricket) January 11, 2021

What a remarkable performance by Team India. Once again great show of resilience under grave provocation, spate of injuries and several key players missing. Bravo! #AUSvsIND

— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) January 11, 2021

Test cricket is a blessing. What a fightback. This felt more like a win than a draw. Brilliant #TeamIndia. #INDvAUS

— Siddharth (@Actor_Siddharth) January 11, 2021

Virat Kohli about Hanuma Vihari the reason why #KingKohli is Leader #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/Njw84bb3ZN

— Ammar (@its__ammar) January 11, 2021

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

Pic1 - Till Rishabh Pant was at the crease.
Pic2- Pujara, Vihari and Ashwin.

And the combination of these 2 made it a fantastic Test Match. Feel so so proud of the Team,
Pant showed why he needs to b treated differently & d grit showed by Vihari, Pujara & Ashwin was unbelievable pic.twitter.com/aU3qN6O3JF

— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) January 11, 2021

The heroes of the @scg. @ashwinravi99 and @Hanumavihari. One couldn’t sit. One couldn’t run or even walk without a limp. But they showed more than enough heart to make up for it. This Test will go down as one of India’s greatest ever rearguard efforts #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/vSfXeqaaYg

— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) January 11, 2021

Incredible India 🇮🇳 #AusvInd #Proud

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) January 11, 2021

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

The series remains locked at 1-1 after three Tests with the fourth in Brisbane scheduled to start on 15 January. India are currently the holders of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.