Ricky Ponting admits he was 'shocked' by Australia's defeat to India
Ricky Ponting admits he was ‘shocked’ by Australia’s defeat to India (Picture: Getty)

Former captain Ricky Ponting admits he was ‘shocked’ by India’s incredible series victory over Australia and said the defeat would ‘sting’ Justin Langer’s side.

Australia failed to reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy as they were beaten 2-1 by India in a sensational four-match Test series.

The hosts bowled India out for 36 on their way to winning the first Test by eight wickets, but India responded to win the Boxing Day Test and level the series.

Despite dominating in Sydney, Australia were unable to force victory, meaning the series was level ahead of the deciding Test in Brisbane.

Australia had not lost at the Gabba since 1988 but were beaten by an injury-hit India team, who chased 328 in the final innings to clinch a famous series win.

‘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.

‘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.

‘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.’

India stars Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Ravi Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Mohammed Shami all missed at least one of the Tests against Australia.

Australia suffered a shocking defeat at the Gabba
Australia suffered a shocking defeat at the Gabba (Picture: Getty)

Ponting says it a ‘real concern’ that Australia could not beat ‘India A’ in the final Test and says the loss will hurt the team.

He added: ‘The cold hard facts of it are pretty much that was the India A team that played this Test match and (India) still won.

‘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.

‘But this time, Australia’s at full strength and India are on the bones of their squad – they’re playing net bowlers in Test matches and they’re still winning. That’s the worry for Australia.

‘It’s probably not even (India’s) second-picked team because you think of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Ishant Sharma and those guys who didn’t even make it out here. Rohit Sharma turns up for the last two Test matches only.

‘We’re probably digging deeper than even an Indian A team and they’ve still been good enough to win two Test matches here in Australia, and good enough to win one in Brisbane, which just doesn’t happen.

‘You can’t take anything away from them, they’ve been awesome.

‘I’m sure it’s a pretty bitter pill to swallow for Justin (Langer, Australia coach) and the boys, to dominate Sydney like they did and not win and be in control of Brisbane for the majority of the game and then lose, I reckon it’s going to sting, this one.’

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