India spoke boisterously about the need to start the series well. They'd succumbed to expectations in South Africa and England earlier in the year and a setback in Adelaide would have severely affected their quest to claim a maiden Test series in Australia. To their credit, they overcame a poor start and clinched a memorable 31-run victory. In the process, they also created and broke a few records...
Stats highlights from the historic Test...
The first instance of India winning the opening Test of a series in Australia.
This is the sixth instance of India winning the Test series opener in 'SENA' countries.
31 Winning margin for India - the closest win for them in an away Test (by runs) and the third closest overall.
3 Overseas wins for India in 2018 - the joint-most for them in a calendar year. They won three in New Zealand in 1968 when they won their first overseas tour 3-1. Virat Kohli became the first Asian captain to win Tests in England, South Africa and Australia.
20 Tests in which Kohli won the toss - he went on to win 17 of those with the other three ending in draws.
35 Batsmen were dismissed to catches in Adelaide - the most ever in a Test.
11 Dismissals by Rishabh Pant in the first - six catches in the first innings followed by five more in the second. It is the joint-most by a wicketkeeper in a Test, equaling the Test record held by Jack Russell, against South Africa in 1995, and AB de Villiers, against Pakistan in 2013, both efforts coming at the Wanderers.
