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Sourya: More than anything else, the Boxing Day Test at Melbourne was a test of character for a depleted Indian team coming off their all-time lowest score in the previous game and shorn of their talismanic captain. But how they turned things around at the historic venue! With about 45 minutes left for lunch on the fourth day, the visitors wrapped up a historic victory by eight wickets, with stand-in captain Ajinkya Rahane deservedly hitting the winning runs.

Sourya: India held all the aces coming into the fourth day but still had to get four wickets with Australia ahead by 2 but in the middle of a dogged partnership between Cameron Green and Pat Cummins. The Indian bowlers were inventive and disciplined like the third day and toiled away until Jasprit Bumrah got the breakthrough with the second new ball after a well-timed short ball kissed Cummin's gloves and went to the slips. Mohammed Siraj then got in on the act with another short ball that induced a mistimed pull from Greene whose vigil ended at 45. Siraj got one more while the inventive Ashwin got the final wicket, cleaning up Hazlewood.

Sourya: There were a few hiccups in India's chase of 70 with Both Mayank Agarwal and Cheteshwar Pujara getting out to nicks, into the cordon. But some wonderfully positive batting from the men in form, captain Rahane and newcomer Shubman Gill taking them home. Gill remained not out on 35 and Rahane on 27 as India came back into the series to level it 1-1 with two more potentially rivetting games to go.

Sourya: This was a Test that India dominated from the beginning with Australia winning the toss and choosing to bat first but immediately put on the back foot with regular wickets taken by the impressive Indian pace and spin partnerships. Having bowled the hosts out for 195, India themselves batted resolutely on the face of some top-notch bowling with Ajinkya Rahane hitting a brilliant century to guide them to a position of strength. Brought into the team, Ravindra Jadeja also played a good hand and Gill impressed all in his innings of 45 with India reaching 326.

Sourya: The Indian bowlers struck gold again in the second innings, despite pace spearhead Umesh Yadav getting injured and bowled out the Aussies for 200, with all five bowlers, including Yadav getting scalps. From then on, it was a matter of time for the Indians on a pitch that had no demons in the third and fourth days. The Aussie bowlers Starc, Cummins and co. had their moments but were hampered by some unusually poor catching. In the end, India outplayed the hosts in all three departments of the game and are deserving winners on the balance.

Sourya: The only centurion of the match and captain for the rest of the series. Ajinkya Rahane was named the man of the match. Here is what he had to say at the post-match presentation: Really proud of all the players, credit to our debutants Gill and Siraj. The way they showed character was amazing, unfortunately we lose Umesh but credit to everyone. The five bowling options worked out really well. We were thinking of one allrounder and Jadeja did really well. Shubman has done well in first-class cricket, showed intent and composure. Siraj bowled with a lot of discipline. Sometimes as debutants, you can get carried away, but guys who play first-class cricket for four-five years know what to do, it makes a captain's job easier. The talk was all about showing attitude, intent and character. One hour took the game away from us in Adelaide, but we still have a lot to learn. Australia applied themselves in the second innings, the last five wickets. Umesh is recovering well, we're excited about Rohit coming back. I spoke to him yesterday and he's really excited about coming back."

Australian captain Tim Paine was left visibly upset by a shattering defeat: "Very disappointed, played poor cricket, sloppy cricket. Let's not take anything away from India, they forced us to make mistakes. They bowled beautifully, we haven't adapted as well as we would've liked. Disappointed as a batting group, two Tests to go, so we'll work hard and come back. Cameron Green has started really well, with more Tests he can blossom into a fantastic cricketer. We will be staying together, there was some potential for a few guys to play in the BBL but with the border closure, we'll probably just stay together and see where we go from here."

Sourya: India have won back-to-back Tests at the MCG with this truly historic win. They played this with two (very impressive) debutants in Siraj and Gill, missed batting stalwarts Kohli and Rohit and were without pace spearheads Shami and Ishant and ended up losing Umesh along the way. Yet nothing could deter this young team led by a new leader which showed exemplary self-belief, skill and perseverance to notch up one of India's finest wins overseas. With the series 1-1, we head to the third Test in the new year, beginning on the 7th of January and scheduled to be held at Sydney but which can be changed depending on the COVID situation. Wherever it takes place, it will make for absorbing viewing. We thank you for joining our coverage over three and a half wonderful days of Test cricket. I, Sourya Chowdhury, sign off, on behalf of my fellow commentators Aryasekhar Chakraborty and Akhshay Bhide, hoping you join us for the next instalment of this series. Good day.

IND won by 8 wickets