After a memorable victory at Gabba, India’s head coach Ravi Shastri on Tuesday delivered a motivational speech in the dressing room after registering victory against Australia by 2-1.
After a memorable victory at Gabba, India’s head coach Ravi Shastri on Tuesday delivered a motivational speech in the dressing room after registering victory against Australia by 2-1. Shastri praised the team spirit that the India showed to come back from the Adelaide debacle and win the series to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
During his speech, Shastri praised Shubman Gill for his fluent 91 and Cheteshwar Pujara for his 211 off 56 in India’s second innings as the ultimate warrior and also called Rishabh Pant an outstanding. Shastri also praised debutants Washington Sundar and T. Natarajan, as well as Shardul Thakur, saying that Thakur and Sundar’s 123-run partnership in India’s first essay which was broke Australia’s back.
In the absence of Virat Kohli, team India outclassed Tim Paine’s Australia in the fourth test at Brisbane after 32 years. Interestingly, the Australia had last tasted a defeat at the Gabba in 1988 when the Viv Richards-starrer West Indies thrashed Australia by nine wickets. As Team India capped off a historic win, let’s take a look at the top performers from the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Shubhman Gill
The rising young talent Shubman Gill successfully played the role of stand-in opener making his Test debut against Australia. At the age of 21, Gill became the youngest visiting batsman on Australian soil and finished the series as the fourth-highest Indian scorer with 259 runs in the three Tests, including two half-centuries at an average of 51.80.
Mohammad Siraj
Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj had revealed the news about his national selection to his late father. At a time when Siraj was keen on making his debut for India in Australia, he lost his father back home but the pacer has decided to stay in Australia during these testing times and the rest became history. The Indian pacer not only made his debut but finished as the leading wicket-taker of the series for India also led the pace attack from the front and ended up with a maiden five-wicket haul in the Gabba test.
Cheteshwar Pujara
Test specialist Cheteshwar Pujara has become the new wall for team India in the modern era Just like Rahul Dravid. In the fourth test, Pujara’s wicket was became a jackpot for the potent bowling unit of the mighty Aussies. Pujara’s batting vigils opened various avenues for his colleagues to counterattack the Australian bowlers. Pujara copped several blows to the body for his 211 off 56 in India’s second innings as the ultimate warrior. With scoring 271 runs, Pujara was the 2nd highest scorer in the series.
Rishabh Pant
Wicket keeper batsman Rishabh Pant turned out to be one of the most consistent performers for team India in this series. For Pant, this series unlocked a new level of his batting where he remained keen on playing fearless not careless cricket. Earlier, Pant was constantly facing criticism for careless cricketing technique.
In an important clash, Rahane, scoring a match-winning knock of 97 guided Rahane’s men to a stunning win at the Sydney Cricket Ground. In the series decider, Pant scored an unbeaten 89 to make sure India finish ahead of the hosts and breach their fortress with great panache.
Ravichandran Ashwin
Leading team India’s spin bowling attack, Ravichandran Ashwin bagged 12 wickets despite not playing the series decider at Gabba. As a middle-order batsman, Ashwin played the innings of his life in the whites for India at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The partnership of Ashwin and Hanuma Vihari during third test laid the foundation of India’s series win.
Despite of these rising stars, the debutants Washington Sundar, T. Natarajan and Shardul Thakur were among those who performed beyond the selector’s expectations in the series. Thakur has been really impressive and had finished his spell with figures of 3/94 and then played an outstanding knock of 67 runs which make the fourth test alive. The duo of Sundar and Thakur added 123 runs for the seventh-wicket stand after 186/6. Their impactful partnership in the middle-order helped India post 336 in reply to Australia’s first innings total of 369.
Sahil Parakh, an emerging batter from Maharashtra, made his Indian Premier League debut for Delhi Capitals during their 2026 match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi.
The 18-year-old was handed his maiden cap as the franchise made changes to its playing XI, looking to test fresh talent in a crucial stage of the tournament.
Opens innings alongside KL Rahul
Parakh was included as an opening batter and partnered experienced wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul at the top. The move reflected Delhi Capitals’ intent to experiment with their batting combination and give exposure to young players in high-pressure games.
Short stay at the crease
The debut outing did not last long for the youngster, as he was dismissed early in the innings. Despite the brief appearance, the opportunity marked an important milestone in his career.
Promising name from domestic circuit
Parakh is a left-handed batter who has impressed in age-group and domestic cricket, earning attention for his performances at the state level. His selection in the Delhi Capitals squad for IPL 2026 underlines the franchise’s focus on nurturing young talent for the future.
Praful Hinge is an emerging Indian fast bowler who grabbed attention after a remarkable debut in the Indian Premier League. Representing Sunrisers Hyderabad, the young pacer made headlines by taking three wickets in a single over, a rare and impactful feat in T20 cricket.
His performance came against Rajasthan Royals, where he turned the game with a decisive spell, announcing his arrival on the big stage.
Domestic cricket background
Hinge hails from Nagpur and has been associated with the Vidarbha cricket team in domestic cricket. Like many cricketers rising through India’s competitive system, his progress at the domestic level paved the way for his IPL opportunity.
While detailed statistics from his domestic career remain limited in public reports, his selection in the IPL reflects recognition of his potential and performances.
Bowling style and strengths
Praful Hinge is a right-arm fast bowler known for:
Maintaining a disciplined line and length
Ability to generate movement off the pitch
Effectiveness in short, impactful spells
His debut spell highlighted composure under pressure, especially in a high-intensity league like the IPL.
Breakthrough IPL moment
Making an immediate impact in the IPL is never easy, but Hinge’s three-wicket over on debut stands out as a defining moment. Performances like these often play a key role in shaping a young cricketer’s early career and gaining attention from teams and selectors.
A promising start
Praful Hinge’s debut has positioned him as a young fast bowler to watch. While it is still early in his career, such impactful performances suggest potential for further opportunities in domestic and franchise cricket.
Rising cricket prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is reportedly on the verge of earning his first senior India call-up following an impressive run in IPL 2026. The 15-year-old batter has been shortlisted for the upcoming India tour of Ireland, according to multiple reports.
The young Rajasthan Royals player has quickly emerged as one of the most talked-about talents this season, delivering impactful performances that have caught the attention of selectors.
Strong performances boost selection chances
Sooryavanshi’s explosive batting in IPL 2026 has played a key role in pushing his case for national selection. Representing Rajasthan Royals, the teenager has consistently taken on top bowlers with confidence, showcasing both aggressive stroke play and maturity beyond his age.
Reports suggest he is among several young players being monitored for India’s Ireland tour, with selectors looking to test emerging talent in a relatively shorter series.
Could become youngest India debutant
If selected and given an opportunity, Sooryavanshi could script history by becoming one of the youngest players to represent India at the international level. At just 15, he would surpass long-standing age records set by former greats like Sachin Tendulkar, who debuted at 16.
The potential milestone has added further excitement around the youngster, whose rapid rise through domestic and franchise cricket has been closely followed by fans and experts alike.
Future tours also on radar
Apart from the Ireland series, reports indicate that Sooryavanshi could also be considered for other upcoming assignments later in 2026, including a possible tour of Zimbabwe. His consistent performances and fearless approach have made him a strong contender for continued inclusion in India’s plans.
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