BCCI announces Rs 50 million bonus for Indian players

The Indian Cricket board (BCCI) on Tuesday announced a Rs 5 crore (Rs 50 million) bonus for the Indian team following their three-wicket win over Australia in the fourth Test at the Gabba that helped them seal the Border-Gavaskar series 2-1.

BCCI president Sourav Ganguly and secretary Jay Shah made the announcement in tweets after the end of the match.

“Just a remarkable win...To go to Australia and win a Test series in this way...will be remembered in the history of Indian cricket forever ..Bcci announces a 5 cr bonus for the team ..The value of this win is beyond any number...well done to every member of the touring party...” said Ganguly in his tweet.

‘The biggest thing in my life’: Over the next 70 years, although teams have made bigger fourth innings score at The Gabba -- like 450 by Pakistan in 2016 -- no one has chased a fourth-innings target to win a game. Importantly, no team had beaten Australia in Brisbane in last 32 years.

“I think this is the biggest thing in my life right now. I am happy (and thankful) to the support staff, and all the fans who supported me even though I was not playing the initial matches (the limited overs series games and the first pink-ball Test). But it has been a dream series I can say that. I had been practising hard and everything paid off because we won the series,” said Pant who was adjudged the Player of the Match.

Pant said the team management, including coach Ravi Shastri and stand-in captain Ajinkya Rahane, had backed him and encouraged him by calling him a match-winner.

“The team management always backs saying that you are a match-winner and you always have to go and win the match for the team. That is the only thing I keep thinking every day. I always think that I want to win matches for India and I am happy that I did it today,” added the 23-year-old.

‘Greatest series wins’: Cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli led tributes to India’s cricketers after their win.

Tendulkar described it as ‘one of the greatest series wins.’

“EVERY SESSION WE DISCOVERED A NEW HERO. Every time we got hit, we stayed put & stood taller. We pushed boundaries of belief to play fearless but not careless cricket,” Tendulkar tweeted.

“Injuries & uncertainties were countered with poise & confidence,” he said.

Virat Kohli, India’s captain in the first Test in Adelaide -- when the team were skittled for 36 -- and who returned home for the birth of his child, said: “WHAT A WIN!!! Yessssss.”

“To everyone who doubted us after Adelaide, stand up and take notice. Exemplary performance but the grit and determination was the standout for us the whole way. Well done to all the boys and the management. Enjoy this historic feat lads,” Kohli said in a tweet.

Cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle said the Gabba ground is “No longer the Gabbatoir. This is history.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted within minutes of India’s triumph that the country was “overjoyed”.

“Their remarkable energy and passion was visible throughout. So was their stellar intent, remarkable grit and determination. Congratulations to the team! Best wishes for your future endeavours,” he said.

Even Google’s Indian-born chief executive Sundar Pichai got in on the act.

“One of the greatest test series wins ever. Congrats India and well played Australia, what a series,” Pichai tweeted.

Toughest ever tour: Shastri India coach Ravi Shastri on Tuesday claimed this was the toughest ever tour an Indian team had undertaken and credited regular skipper Kohli for the self-belief and character that saw the Indians win their second successive series in Australia.

Kohli had led India to their first-ever series win in Australia, back in 2018-19.

“This is the toughest tour ever. We are playing in Covid and quarantine times with multiple injuries. So nothing comes close to this or surpasses this,” said the coach.

Agencies