From Kohil's swipe at doubters to Tharoor's 'epicaricacy', tributes pour in

Praise and congratulations — besides a bonus of ₹5 crore — poured in after India’s historic win over Australia at the Gabba on Tuesday. India became the first team to beat Australia in Brisbane in 32 years as they held their nerve and defeated the hosts by three wickets in the fourth and final Test and clinched the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2-1.

Captain Virat Kohli — who returned to India after the first Test for the birth of his child — led the tributes, praising the team’s “grit and determination”.

“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. Cheers,” wrote Kohli on Twitter. India, who were skittled out for 36 in Adelaide, were also beset with injuries and abstentions. But the youngsters proved the doubters wrong with their performance.

Head Coach Ravi Shastri revealed he had tears in his eyes and said, “What these guys have pulled off will go down in history as one of the greatest series ever played.

“When you look at the COVID situation and the spate of injuries, all those things when you take it into account, then to show the stomach for a fight after being bowled out for 36 is unimaginable.”

The BCCI announced a bonus of ₹5 crore to the team for the “remarkable win”. “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,” BCCI president Sourav Ganguly said in a tweet.

Bollywood actors and politicians, too, congratulated the team for their historic performance.

In a tweet, Amitabh Bachchan said: “Well done India… pulled a draw under an extremely difficult situation… bore the brunt of injury, bore the racist abuses… AND CAME OUT VICTORIOUS… India you are made of sterner stuff! Filled every Indians heart with immense PRIDE.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the country was “overjoyed” at the success of the team.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor — admired and mocked in equal measure for his vast English vocabulary — sent out a single-word tweet — word of the day — trolling the Australians, along with graphics of Aussie cricketers predicting a whitewash. The word? Epicaricacy: the act of rejoicing at or deriving pleasure from the misfortunes of others.