Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting on Tuesday heaped praise on India’s resilient squad after the Ajinkya Rahane-led side scripted history to beat Australia at the Gabba by three wickets to win the four-Test series 2-1.<o:p></o:p>

Ponting said that he was “shocked” to see Australia go down in the Test series as he lauded the Indian team for showing grit and determination to come out with a win, against all odds.<o:p></o:p>

"I'm quite shocked that Australia weren't quite good enough to win this series," Ponting told cricket.com.au.<o:p></o:p>

"Considering everything the Indian cricket team has been through in the last five or six weeks, with the captain leaving, all the injuries they've had – they've been through 20 players – (Australia) have been at full-strength all bar Davey (Warner) missing early on, so it's really hard to comprehend.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/never-ever-underestimate-team-india-justin-langer-reflects-on-2-1-series-defeat-357764" hreflang="en">Never ever underestimate Team India: Justin Langer reflects on 2-1 series defeat</a>

"But having been there you can see how it's happened, because (of) how resilient they've been. They've played really good, tough, hard Test match cricket day-in and day-out and won all the big key moments through the series.<o:p></o:p>

Ponting further hailed India’s ability of winning big moments in every Test barring the Adelaide horror, where the visitors were skittled out for a paltry 36. Since then, it has been a show of remarkable resilience by the Indians.<o:p></o:p>

"That's been the difference between the two teams; India have won all the big moments in every Test match and Australia have fallen short."<o:p></o:p>

"Washington Sundar looked like he had played 50 Test matches through the course of this game and never looked out of place," Ponting said.

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"Shardul Thakur was the same in his second Test match, picked up seven wickets and scored 60-odd handy runs in the first innings.<o:p></o:p>

"I've been around the IPL a long time so I know the talent that they do have in India, but when you've got to step up on a big stage in a Test match against Australia it's a different story.<o:p></o:p>

"But they've done it, they've done it really well and they thoroughly deserve to win the series."<o:p></o:p>

Australia, across four innings of the Sydney and Brisbane Test, managed to scalp just 12 wickets which has left Ponting infuriated. The former Aussie captain said that Australia lost to “India A” side while adding that is the real concern for the Tim Paine-led outfit.<o:p></o:p>

"The cold hard facts of it are pretty much that was the India A team that played this Test match and (India) still won," he said.

IN PICS |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/how-swashbuckling-rishabh-pant-decimated-australia-at-the-gabba-357703" hreflang="en">How swashbuckling Rishabh Pant decimated Australia at the Gabba</a>

"That's a real concern for Australia. I think we gave Australia the benefit of the doubt the last time India were out here because Warner and (Steve) Smith weren't there.<o:p></o:p>

India’s next assignment will be a full-fledged home series against England, starting from February 5. <o:p></o:p>

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting on Tuesday heaped praise on India’s resilient squad after the Ajinkya Rahane-led side scripted history to beat Australia at the Gabba by three wickets to win the four-Test series 2-1.

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting on Tuesday heaped praise on India’s resilient squad after the Ajinkya Rahane-led side scripted history to beat Australia at the Gabba by three wickets to win the four-Test series 2-1. Ponting said that he was “shocked” to see Australia go down in the Test series as he lauded the Indian team for showing grit and determination to come out with a win, against all odds. "I'm quite shocked that Australia weren't quite good enough to win this series," Ponting told cricket.com.au. "Considering everything the Indian cricket team has been through in the last five or six weeks, with the captain leaving, all the injuries they've had – they've been through 20 players – (Australia) have been at full-strength all bar Davey (Warner) missing early on, so it's really hard to comprehend. ALSO READ: Never ever underestimate Team India: Justin Langer reflects on 2-1 series defeat "But having been there you can see how it's happened, because (of) how resilient they've been. They've played really good, tough, hard Test match cricket day-in and day-out and won all the big key moments through the series. Ponting further hailed India’s ability of winning big moments in every Test barring the Adelaide horror, where the visitors were skittled out for a paltry 36. Since then, it has been a show of remarkable resilience by the Indians. "That's been the difference between the two teams; India have won all the big moments in every Test match and Australia have fallen short." "Washington Sundar looked like he had played 50 Test matches through the course of this game and never looked out of place," Ponting said. ALSO READ: Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya return as India announce squad for first two Tests vs England "Shardul Thakur was the same in his second Test match, picked up seven wickets and scored 60-odd handy runs in the first innings. "I've been around the IPL a long time so I know the talent that they do have in India, but when you've got to step up on a big stage in a Test match against Australia it's a different story. "But they've done it, they've done it really well and they thoroughly deserve to win the series." Australia, across four innings of the Sydney and Brisbane Test, managed to scalp just 12 wickets which has left Ponting infuriated. The former Aussie captain said that Australia lost to “India A” side while adding that is the real concern for the Tim Paine-led outfit. "The cold hard facts of it are pretty much that was the India A team that played this Test match and (India) still won," he said. IN PICS | How swashbuckling Rishabh Pant decimated Australia at the Gabba "That's a real concern for Australia. I think we gave Australia the benefit of the doubt the last time India were out here because Warner and (Steve) Smith weren't there. India’s next assignment will be a full-fledged home series against England, starting from February 5.

Australia lost against India 'A': Ricky Ponting left shocked by crushing 2-1 series defeat

The Australian batting unit has been central to widespread criticism for their poor run with the willow in the ongoing four-match Test series against India, which is locked at 1-1 after the conclusion of first two Test. The form of Aussie batters has irked former captain Ricky Ponting as he said the hosts haven’t shown enough intent in the Border-Gavaskar series.

While discussing the first two Tests on the ‘Unplayable Podcast’, Ponting said that lack of drives and pull shots from the Australian batsman haven’t helped their cause with the hosts desperately looking to win the series after losing it last time in 2018-19.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/he-should-be-ready-to-go-warner-may-play-the-third-test-even-if-he-is-not-100-fit-353609" hreflang="en">'He should be ready to go': Warner may play the third Test even if he is not 100% fit</a>

“I can count on one hand in Two Test matches how many pull shots have been played, how many drives down the ground have you seen? You can’t tell me there haven’t been short balls bowled or full balls bowled. There have been enough,” said Ponting.

Ponting further took a sly jibe at the Aussie batsmen as he said that the likes of Shubman Gill and Ajinkya Rahane played more pull shots than the hosts have played in the first two Tests.

“We saw today, I know it was a small total and it is easier to go and play your shots, but Shubman Gill &amp; Ajinkya Rahane played more good pull shots than I think Australia have played in the two Tests. For Indian batsmen to do that against our attack &amp; for ours to not, it’ll be a cop-out to just say their bowlers were good,” Ponting further said.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/indias-ajinkya-rahane-gets-his-name-engraved-mcg-honours-board-for-2nd-time-353455" hreflang="en">India's Ajinkya Rahane gets his name engraved MCG honours board for 2nd time</a>

Notably, this is the first time since 1988 that a single Australian player failed to score a half-century in a home Test match.

India and Australia will next lock horns in the third Test, scheduled to start from January 7 at the Sydney Cricket Ground. 
&nbsp;

The Australian batting unit has been central to widespread criticism for their poor run with the willow in the ongoing four-match Test series against India, which is locked at 1-1 after the conclusion of first two Test.

The Australian batting unit has been central to widespread criticism for their poor run with the willow in the ongoing four-match Test series against India, which is locked at 1-1 after the conclusion of first two Test. The form of Aussie batters has irked former captain Ricky Ponting as he said the hosts haven’t shown enough intent in the Border-Gavaskar series. While discussing the first two Tests on the ‘Unplayable Podcast’, Ponting said that lack of drives and pull shots from the Australian batsman haven’t helped their cause with the hosts desperately looking to win the series after losing it last time in 2018-19. ALSO READ: 'He should be ready to go': Warner may play the third Test even if he is not 100% fit “I can count on one hand in Two Test matches how many pull shots have been played, how many drives down the ground have you seen? You can’t tell me there haven’t been short balls bowled or full balls bowled. There have been enough,” said Ponting. Ponting further took a sly jibe at the Aussie batsmen as he said that the likes of Shubman Gill and Ajinkya Rahane played more pull shots than the hosts have played in the first two Tests. “We saw today, I know it was a small total and it is easier to go and play your shots, but Shubman Gill & Ajinkya Rahane played more good pull shots than I think Australia have played in the two Tests. For Indian batsmen to do that against our attack & for ours to not, it’ll be a cop-out to just say their bowlers were good,” Ponting further said. ALSO READ: India's Ajinkya Rahane gets his name engraved MCG honours board for 2nd time Notably, this is the first time since 1988 that a single Australian player failed to score a half-century in a home Test match. India and Australia will next lock horns in the third Test, scheduled to start from January 7 at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

'I can count on one hand...' - Ricky Ponting left fuming over Australian batsmen's shot selection in Test series

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Australia lost against India 'A': Ricky Ponting left shocked by crushing 2-1 series defeat

'I can count on one hand...' - Ricky Ponting left fuming over Australian batsmen's shot selection in Test series