During Monday's reflections, captain Ajinkya Rahane equated India's hard-fought draw in the third Test against Australia to a victory. He was particularly impressed by Hanuma Vihari's grit, as the batsman ignored a painful hamstring injury to stay at the crease. Together with Ashwin, Vihari survived more than 42 overs, finishing unbeaten with 23 runs from 161 deliveries to save the match.
In a virtual post-match briefing, Rahane explained that Vihari's performance was extraordinary, arguing that his resilience while injured carried more weight than even a hundred runs. The skipper noted that this kind of mental toughness and willingness to suffer for the sake of the team is a testament to a player's strength of character.
Rahane believed that Vihari's selfless approach and ability to handle the pressure were key, stating that the result was essentially a win given the challenging overseas conditions. He credited the combined efforts of Vihari, Ashwin, Pant, Pujara, and Sharma, along with everyone else who contributed to the draw. He also expressed great satisfaction with Rishabh Pant, who silenced his recent critics with an energetic and impressive 97-run innings.