We'll leave you with that for now. Time for India to celebrate and Australia to introspect. How quickly have the tables been reversed. Funny game this. We'll be back for the last Test on Friday at 9:00 AM. Do join us then. Goodbye for now.
Here are some stats from Mohandas Menon on twitter - Captains with most Test wins vs Aus: Clive Lloyd 12, Mike Brearley 11, WG Grace 8 and MS Dhoni 7. This is the first time India has won 3 Tests in a single series vs Australia
Dhawan: "It's a dream come true for me. When I entered I was nervous. Once I got my rhythm I just played my game. M Vijay did a great job. It's hard to control the emotions and I think he did really well at the other end. I wanted to stay at the crease for as long as possible. I was getting runs and I just wanted to make it as big as I can. I'll cherish this all my life. The finger will take some time to heal. It's part of the game."
Shikhar Dhawan is the Man of the Match. No surprises there.
MS Dhoni: "Frankly, I don't think about revenge. They played well over there in those conditons. I'm happy with the way the team has played overall. The batting has been consistent. The inclusion of Jadeja helped. We were playing with 5 specialist bowlers. The average number of overs we take to bowl the opposition out is around 120 overs. The bowlers are bound to get tired by then. Dhawan handled it quite well. He will have his own expectations from now and he should handle it. The pitch played well. There was some help for the seamers and some footmarks later but nothing alarming. Bhuvneshwar's three wickets is what really got us back into the game. We may try out a few things in Delhi but it's important to win all games."
Clarke: "We have to pay credit to India. The start they got with Dhawan and Vijay set up the game. We tried everything we could but those two batted really well. The pitch played well and we were happy to get over 400 for the first time. We have improved in this Test match and hopefully we can finish on a high in Delhi. We've seen over the last 2 years that we've been consistent at home and not so outside. We know that as a team. We're working hard."
So India have won back the Border-Gavaskar trophy. They've done it quite clinically with a team in transition. There were not many who would have given India a chance of winning 3-0 after the dismal showing against England. Then again, not many would have expected Australia to capitualte the way they have. Right now, India have a promising opening pair, a settled looking middle-order with Dhoni making the No 6 spot his own. The 3 spinner strategy has worked wonders too. Australia have a lot of troubles but they will be making lists of those. We don't have to do it for them.
From @rgcricket on twitter: This is the first time ever India has won the first three Tests in a series of 4 matches or more.
The chase was looking easy before tea but Siddle and Starc put in a last ditch effort to keep Australia believing about an outside chance of a draw. Dhoni and Tendulkar had some nervy moments towards the end but Jadeja's boundaries late in the innings took India out of a tight situation. Dhoni finished it off in style to bring about Australia's 6th consecutive loss in India.
Clarke has a desolate look on his face but Australia will take a lot out of this game despite the defeat. For now though, it will be India's time to celebrate. Handshakes all around. Dhawan has a stump in hand to remember this game by.
33.3 Starc to Dhoni, FOUR, India win the series 3-0. Dhoni finishes it off in his characteristic cool fashion. Slightly short and he rocks back to pull it hard to the square leg boundary. He was struggling early on but has suddenly gone on a rampage and finished it in style. We've seen that before, though
33.2 Starc to Dhoni, FOUR, Dhoni has found his touch all of a sudden. He comes down the track and Starc tries to attack the stumps. That allows Dhoni to whip it off his pads to the backwards square leg fence. Scores level
Just 5 more needed to win now
33.1 Starc to Dhoni, FOUR, that should settle it. Dhoni has had enough of hanging around. He watches a pitched up delivery and lofts it hard and inside out over cover. Nothing much Starc could do about it
end of over
32.6 Siddle to Ravindra Jadeja, no run, very full and on the leg, Jadeja taps it in front of short mid wicket and is sent back by Dhoni as he looks for a non-existent single
32.5 Siddle to Ravindra Jadeja, FOUR, slapped flat and hard. almost took his skipper out with that shot. It was on a good length and Jadeja gets up on his toes to send it hard and flat past Dhoni for another boundary. This game has changed in complexion in the space of four balls.
Dhoni walks up to have a chat now.
32.4 Siddle to Ravindra Jadeja, no run, full and outside off, Jadeja whips it straight to the fielder at mid wicket
32.3 Siddle to Ravindra Jadeja, FOUR, Jadeja is happy to take the aerial route. He lofts a good length delivery over mid off. Not timed too well but it still has enough on it to get to the fence
32.2 Siddle to Ravindra Jadeja, no run, on a good length and outside off from over the wicket, Jadeja has a dab at it but misses
Ravindra Jadeja, left handed bat, comes to the crease
Australia have suddenly found some momentum.
32.1 Siddle to Tendulkar, out Tendulkar Run Out!! This match is not going to end quietly. Tendulkar was hit on the thigh and it rolled in front of cover. Tendulkar wanted a quick single and was scampering down but Dhoni sends him back. Warner was quick to get forward and breaks the stumps with an under-arm throw. Tendulkar was caught way short and walks back very dejectedly. Tendulkar run out (Warner) 21(23) [4s-2]
end of over
Siddle to Tendulkar, THATS OUT!! Run Out!!
Tendulkar is run out. Big drama here.
Dhoni was on his haunches between deliveries. A pump of fists and they're ready to go again.
31.6 Starc to Dhoni, no run, Starc gets this to nip in off a good length and hits Dhoni high on the thigh. Starc sprints down to prevent any chance of a single
31.5 Starc to Tendulkar, 1 run, on a good length and on the off, Tendulkar punches it in front of mid off for a quick single
31.4 Starc to Tendulkar, no run, Starc is not going to give up just as yet. This one nips away off the track. Tendulkar goes for a drive but is beaten. He has a wry smile to acknowledge the good bowling too
31.3 Starc to Tendulkar, no run, full and outside off, Tendulkar drives hard but straight to point
31.2 Starc to Tendulkar, FOUR, Tendulkar breaks the shackles with a calcualted risk. He stays in the crease, sees a pitched up delivery and lofts it straight down the ground for a boundary. He had to reach out to make contact but did it really well
Two slips in place.
31.1 Starc to Tendulkar, no run, full and on the off, Tendulkar gets right behind the line to defend
end of over
The equation is 22 needed off 30 balls now. Siddle and Starc putting in a brilliant spell late in the day.
From @FakeHauritz on twitter: For God’s sake, Siddle. Don’t get Dhoni out
30.6 Siddle to Dhoni, 2 runs, full and outside off, Dhoni reaches out and guides it past backward point for a couple now
The crowd is getting anxious. Dhoni remains as cool as ever.
30.5 Siddle to Dhoni, no run, on a good length and well outside off, Dhoni does not offer a shot
30.4 Siddle to Dhoni, no run, this is just superb bowling from Siddle. It was full, pitches just outside off and moves away late. Dhoni is beaten all ends up.
A man at short extra cover and short mid wicket.
30.3 Siddle to Dhoni, no run, Dhoni is finding it really hard to get bat to ball. He comes down and has a jab outside off but misses
30.2 Siddle to Dhoni, no run, on a good length and just outside off, Dhoni does not offer a shot
30.1 Siddle to Tendulkar, 1 run, Tendulkar wants a boundary. He walks down the track now and drives hard but to the fielder at extra cover. Just a single as it gets deflected
end of over
Tendulkar will finally be on strike after 17 balls!
TEAMS
Australia:
Ed Cowan,
David Warner,
Michael Clarke (c),
Phillip Hughes,
Steven Smith,
Brad Haddin (wk),
Moises Henriques,
Peter Siddle,
Mitchell Starc,
Nathan Lyon,
Xavier Doherty.
