Australia vs India 2018-19: 4 Unnoticed things from third Test match

India scripted a historic win at the Melbourne Cricket Ground to go 2-1 up in the four-match series. By virtue of this win, India will take back the Border-Gavaskar trophy even if they went on to lose the Sydney Test. Indian scored a mammoth 443 after Indian captain Virat Kohli won the toss on the Boxing day and chose to bat first.

Mayank Agarwal made an impressive debut with a stroke-filled 76. Cheteshwar Pujara top scored with another patient 103 and his partnership with Kohli steered India to a match-winning total as the pitch showed some variable bounce from day one. Australian batsman couldn't cope with that as they were skittled out 151 in their first innings, thanks to Jasprit Bumrah who wreaked havoc with 6-33.

To the surprise of everyone, India didn't enforce the follow-on despite having a lead of 292. India's intention for some quick runs were cut short by a fierce Pat Cummins who picked four wickets in seven balls. India declared on the fourth morning to set an improbable target of 399.

India is on the verge of a historic series win and with this win; they have created a few records. Let us look at four unnoticed things from the Test match.

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#1 India opened with two first time openers after 86 years

Mayank Aggarwal

India's struggle at the top of the order in overseas conditions is well documented as the last century opening partnership came back in 2010 in South Africa by Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir.

The woes continued this year as Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay and KL Rahul failed to make major contributions. After an impressive debut by Prithvi Shaw, he was expected to open the innings but an injury in the warmup game ruled him out of the series.

Rahul-Vijay failed miserably, as Selectors were forced to bring in Mayank Agarwal. The temperament that Hanuma Vihari has shown in his short Test career prompted the management to open the batting with him. India opened with two first time openers after 1936 Lord's Test when Vijay Merchant and Dattaram Hindlekar opened for India.

#2 Virat Kohli surpassing Rahul Dravid for most runs in overseas in a calendar year

Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli has been the mainstay of Indian batting ever since he took over the captaincy. His pyrotechnics have been amazing with his willow yielding runs all over the world. With a big overseas season in 2018, Kohli continued doing what he is known for.

Virat Kohli surpassed Rahul Dravid for most runs in overseas Tests by an Indian in a calendar year. Kohli scored 1138 runs in 11 Tests combined in South Africa, England, and Australia beating Dravid's record of 1137 which was set way back in 2002. He was the highest run scorer in the South Africa series with 286 runs in three matches.

He also dominated the England series with a tally of 593 runs from five Tests, way ahead of second highest scorer in Jos Buttler with 349 runs. With 259 runs in three matches, he has been pivotal to India's fate against a quality Australian bowling attack.

#3 Jasprit Bumrah - first Asian to take five-wicket hauls in SA, ENG, AUS in a calendar year

Jasprit Bumrah

Virat Kohli has made some controversial calls throughout his stint as Test captain. But, one call that has created huge impact is giving a Test debut to Jasprit Bumrah in South Africa. From being labelled as a limited overs specialist to being Kohli's go-to bowler, his growth in his debut year is extraordinary.

Bumrah was again at his very best at Melbourne as he picked up six wickets in the first innings to bundle out Aussies for just 151. With this fifer, he became the first Asian bowler to take five-wicket hauls in South Africa, England, and Australia in a calendar year.

He has taken 48 wickets in his debut year in Tests. Only Curtly Ambrose (49) and Terry Alderman (54) are ahead of Bumrah in this list.

#5 Rishabh Pant beats Syed Kirmani's record of 19 dismissals in a Test series

Rishabh Pant

Rishabh Pant Test career has been a revelation of sorts right from the day he wore the white Test flannels. He started off his career with a six and has adopted an aggressive approach to his batting. More than his batting, it is his keeping abilities that have risen few eyebrows among cricketing experts.

He has effected 19 dismissals and equalled Syed Kirmani's record of causing most dismissals by an Indian in a series. He would have easily added a few more dismissals but he has dropped a few which has resulted in questioning his keeping technique.

Although it is early days for the young Delhi lad, his technique of getting up early has been questioned by the likes of Adam Gilchrist, who feels it might be difficult for Pant to hold on to the catches on the slow low wickets of the subcontinent.