The Indian cricket team called on Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Thursday ahead of their two day pink ball match against the Prime Minister’s XI scheduled to start on Saturday i.e. November 30 at the Manuka Oval.
India skipper Rohit Sharma introduced all his teammates to Albanese, who praised Jasprit Bumrah and Virat Kohli, the main architects of Australia’s downfall in the first Test at Perth.
“Big challenge ahead for the PM’s XI at Manuka Oval this week against an amazing Indian side,” the Prime Minister posted on X after the meeting at the Australian parliament. The PM’s XI led by Jack Edwards also called on Albanese.
In the first Test, Bumrah led a feisty bunch of Indian cricketers to their most dominant Test victory on Australian soil, winning by a massive 295 runs in a remarkable turnaround that will find a pride of place among the country’s golden moments in international cricket.
The stand-in skipper led by example with a match-haul of 8/72 as India bowled out the hosts, who were in pursuit of a mammoth 534, for 238 in 58.4 overs on the fourth afternoon of the opening Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy here.
The victory propelled India back to the top of the World Test Championship standings with 61.11 percentage points.
India’s previous biggest winning margin in terms of runs was 222 during a 1977-78 series game in Melbourne when Australia played an under-strength side due to mass exodus for the Kerry Packer World Series.
India are now 1-0 up in the five-Test series with regular skipper Rohit ready to take over during the Day/Night game starting December 6 in Adelaide.
