Chief Selector Dilip Vengsarkar lavished praise on the team for their ‘fantastic’ effort, saying India was fast closing in gap with the world champions.

“It was a fantastic and historic victory after a 23-year gap,” he said referring to India’s last win in the 1983 World Cup.

“To defeat the number one team for last one decade shows that India is fast climbing up the ladders and closing in on the Australia,” he said.

Vengsarkar also praised Mahendra Singh Dhoni for his “marvellous” captaincy and Sachin Tendulkar for his “focus” since landing on Australian soil on December 15.

Former Indian captain Ajay Jadeja said it was an “incredible effort” by the young team to beat the world champions in their own backyard.

“I think it is unbelievable. We have beaten them twice in a row and that is quite an achievement. We have outplayed them in every department of the game and it augurs well for Indian cricket,” he said.