Australia vs India 2018/19: 3 best players from the Boxing Day Test

After showing immense grit and determination, India finally won the Boxing Day Test match at Melbourne on day 5. India managed to win a Test match at the famous Melbourne Cricket Ground after the span of 37 years. Last time they won a Test match at the iconic ground, was way back in1981 when they won a Test under the captaincy of legendary Sunil Gavaskar.

The loss at Perth had forced Team India to make some changes and thankfully all of the changes worked out pretty well. The fresh opening pair of debutant Mayank Agarwal and Hanuma Vihari did their job, Rohit Sharma contributed in the first inning and Ravindra Jadeja proved to be crucial with the ball in both of the innings.

There were some superb individual performances from both the teams which made everyone stand and applaud. So let us take a look at three of the best performers in the Boxing Day Test match.

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#3 Pat Cummins

Pat Cummins had an excellent match

Pat Cummins is by far the best player for Australia in this series. He has not only contributed with the ball, but also has played some vital knocks with the bat. In fact, he has been batting better than their top order batsmen and ex-captain Michael Clarke even suggested that he should bat in the top 6.

Cummins achieved his career-best bowling figure and career-best batting figure together in this match. He constantly kept bowling in the right areas, and with his pace, batsmen were finding it difficult to get off the blocks. He was the only bowler who was successful in troubling Pujara and Kohli in the first innings.

The 25-year-old picked up 3 wickets in the first inning and followed it up with a 6-fer in the second innings. In both innings, he managed to get the wickets of India's top three. In fact, in the second innings, 5 of his six-wickets were of top 5 Indian batsmen.

Cummins was also very good with the bat in the match. He batted like a proper top order batsman in both the innings. He took the match into day 5 due to some brilliant batting. He made 63 runs in the second innings facing 114 balls.

With a figure of 9 for 99 in the match and add to that 80 runs with the bat, Cummins would have certainly got the man of the match award had Australia won the match. But he is certainly one of the best performers of the match.

#2 Cheteshwar Pujara

Cheteshwar Pujara after scoring his second ton of the series on Day 2.

Cheteshwar Pujara has to be the most non-glamourous cricketer of this time. He doesn't get the limelight same as a Virat Kohli or a Rohit Sharma, but he goes about his business silently and very effectively. He makes sure that the life of other batsmen at the crease is pleasant.

Pujara played one of his best knocks at the MCG. His knock of 106 in the first inning paved way for a good first innings total. He went into bat in the first session of Day 1 and batted the whole day and went into the dressing room unbeaten.

Resuming his knock on 68 on day 2, Pujara made his slowest ever hundred, taking 280 deliveries. His partnership of 170 runs with the skipper Virat Kohli turned out to be the match-winning one. His patience and determination shown at the crease made the Aussie bowlers ineffective.

#1 Jasprit Bumrah

Jasprit Bumrah took 9 wickets in the match.

Jasprit Bumrah has become the most valuable find of Indian cricket in recent times. Having started his career as a T20 specialist, Bumrah has now become the best bowler of India in the red ball cricket also. Whenever the skipper needs wicket, he turns to Bumrah to deliver the goods.

The 25-year-old picked up 6 wickets in the first inning and as a result, Australia were all out for just 151 runs, giving India a huge lead of 292 runs. The problem for India in the ongoing series has been getting the tail out early, but Bumrah cleaned up the tail pretty quickly in Australia's first innings.

Bumrah's slower ball yorker to dismiss Shaun Marsh in the last ball before lunch was a moment to savour. In the second innings also, Bumrah chipped in with some crucial wickets. He dismissed Finch, Marsh and Cummins in the second innings.

The legendary pacer Glenn McGrath is mighty imppressed by Bumrah:

"I have never seen anybody quite like Bumrah. He has a short run-up but powers through to the crease. And he has such an unusual, quick, whippy action. It’s hard for the batsmen to pick him."

Jasprit Bumrah was rightfully given the man of the match award for his brilliant match figures of 9 for 86.