Skipper Ajinkya Rahane was delighted with the character Team India showed on Monday and fought till the end to save the thrid Test against Australia in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy. India needed 309 runs at the start of the day and Australia needed 7 wickets effectively, even though Ravindra Jadeja was shown padded up.

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Asked about his feelings at the end of the game and what was the best thing that he was proud of on Day 5 of the SCG Test, Rahane said, "I think our talk, this morning was all about showing character today, fight till the end, not to think about results.

Team showed its character

"Really happy, the way we fought especially today, but also throughout the game, even in the first innings when Australia were 200 for 2 and from there getting them all out for 338 was really good. There are few areas we can improve on but special mention to Vihari and Ashwin in the end the way they batted was really good to see."

India came back storming into the game on the second day of the Test after they broke the Marnus Labuschagne-Steve Smith partnership. Despite Smith's magnificient century, Australia were bowled out for 338 after losing their last six wickets for 89 runs.

Needing 309 runs on the fifth morning, India lost Rahane's wicket in just the seventh over of the first hour as India promoted left-hander Rishabh Pant to No 5. But that move turned out to be a genius one as Pant played a whirlwind knock of 97 runs to keep India alive in the game and set them up for a really interesting chase.

'Strategy was ours, but Pant executed it'

Talking about the masterstroke, Rahane gave credit to Pant for playing that courageous knock with a bruised elbow. "We made that strategy but in the end it's all about that player, showing the character. I think, it was all about left-hand right-hand combination in the middle and that worked out really well for us. Credit to him, the way he batted, attacking innings, backed himself really well."

After Pant and Cheteshwar Pujara, both got out India were in a spot of bother again, with 44 overs remaining in the day and just four wickets in hand, five, if Ravindra Jadeja had to play.

But, injury to Hanuma Vihari meant India couldn't go forthe win and had to grind out the remainining overs to draw the game. Ashwin-Vihari played out 256 balls and added just 62 runs as they showed grit and fought hard against the Australia's fearsome bowling unit.

With series poised at 1-1 and SCG Test ending in a draw, the two teams will head to the Gabba for the fourth and final game of the series.

Looking forward to that game and giving an update the injuries in the Indian camp, that they suffered in this Test, Rahane said, "Rishabh is alright (elbow) and looking toward the Brisbane Test match, on Jadeja (thumb), the physio will take the call, apart from that we'll have to see how Vihari (hamstring) is feeling. But yeah, looking forward to Brisbane now."