5 key Indian players in India's historic 2-1 win over Australia

India created history by winning their maiden Test series on Australian soil on Monday after a wait of 71 long years. It was a dominating performance by Indian team who outplayed Australia in all departments. India won the Test series 2-1 and achieved the distinction of becoming the first Asian side to win a Test series in Australia.

Under the captaincy of Virat Kohli, the Indian team performed brilliantly as a unit. It was a remarkable Test series win for the Indian Test team who had lost two overseas Test series in South Africa and England last year despite playing good cricket. Every member of the team contributed according to the situation. India took the lead at Adelaide by 31 runs.

At Perth, India lost the second Test by 146 runs. India then came back to take the lead at Melbourne with a commanding 137 run win. Despite scoring 622 for 7 and bowling out Australia for 300 at Sydney, the rain had the final say and match was called off a draw.

Here we look at the 5 Indian key players which made a difference in historic 2-1 Test series win in Australia.

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#1 Cheteshwar Pujara

Cheteshwar Pujara was the main difference between the two sides in the Test series. He finished as the leading run-getter with 521 runs from 4 matches (7 innings) with 3 centuries and 1 half century. In the first Test match at Adelaide, India was struggling big time in the first innings when Pujara came to rescue and scored 123 runs helping India to score 250 runs.

In Melbourne, Pujara scored a brilliant 106 and helped team India post a massive 443 for 7. At Sydney, the number 3 batsmen his highest overseas score of 193 and helped team India post a massive total of 622 for 7.

#2 Mayank Agarwal

Mayank Agarwal made lots of difference for India in the last two Test matches for India as he was a replacement for injured Prithvi Shaw. As Murali Vijay and KL Rahul failed to give solid starts, the Indian team management decided to give Agarwal a chance. He responded well and played the Australian pacers and Nathan Lyon brilliantly.

After the success in domestic cricket and India A, Mayank Agarwal proved his worth for Team India. He scored 195 runs from 2 matches (3 innings) with the best score of 77 during the first innings of the fourth Test match played at Sydney.

In the third Test match at Melbourne, Agarwal provided a solid start putting on 40 runs for opening wicket. He made 72 runs in the first innings and gave the likes of Pujara, Kohli to build on a big total.

#3 Jasprit Bumrah

Jasprit Bumrah was simply outstanding with the ball during the entire 4 match Test series. He bowled with great control and was the go-to man for Virat Kohli to pick wickets. Since making his Test debut in South Africa last year, Bumrah has been outstanding and proved their worth.

He finished as the leading wicket-taker in Test series with 21 wickets from 4 matches (8 innings) with best figures of 6/33 in the first innings of the 3rd Test match at Melbourne. Bumrah played the key role along with Mohammed Shami and Ishant Sharma.

Bumrah made the life tough for the Australian batsmen tough bowling at speeds of 140 plus in every spell. His consistent line and length gave no breathing space, made sure that Australia did not score runs easily. Bumrah stood out and proved his worth after successful Test series in South Africa and England.

#4 Mohammed Shami

Mohammed Shami stood out in the pace bowling department along with Jasprit Bumrah and Ishant Sharma. He took 16 wickets from 4 matches (8 innings) with best figures of 6/56 in the 2nd innings of the 2nd Test match at Perth.

In the first Test match at Adelaide Oval, India scored 250 runs in the first innings. Mohammed Shami took 5 wickets in the match and was one of the performers which helped Team India restrict Australia in first innings.

He was simply outstanding in the previous two overseas tours of South Africa and England. He bowled with heart and provided big wickets for Virat Kohli in historic 2-1 Test series win over the hosts Australia.

In the Melbourne Test match, Shami took 3 wickets but bowled consistent line and lengths which put Australian batsmen under tremendous pressure. Again in Sydney, Mohammed Shami bowled with good control taking 2 wickets and helping Australia bowling out for 300 runs.

#5 Rishabh Pant

The stylish left-handed batsman, Rishabh Pant finished as the 2nd leading run-getter with 350 runs from 4 matches (7 innings) with the best score of 159 not out during first innings of 4th Test match played at Sydney Cricket Ground.

In the first 3 Test matches, Pant got starts but was not able to convert those starts into big scores. He did a brilliant job while wicket keeping and showed improvement. He added 204 runs for the 7th wicket with Ravindra Jadeja in Sydney Test. During the 4th Test, Pant hit only one six in a display of great temperament.

During the 4th Test match at Sydney, he recorded the highest score by an Indian wicketkeeper-batsman in an overseas Test match. While keeping behind the wickets, Pant created the Indian record of picking most catches in a Test match.