Listless Australia no match for India

India took an unassailable 3-0 lead in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy by winning the third Test against Australia by six wickets in Mohali on Monday. Though the match finished with 15 balls to spare, the defeat in four days (Day 1 was washed out) has ignited a debate on whether this is the worst ever Australian team to have toured India.

After the loss in Chennai and the humiliation in Hyderabad, the Australians failed to bat out two sessions on the last day in Mohali which would have saved them from yet another defeat.

It is now the first time in 25 years that Australia have lost the first three matches of a series.

For India, the victories could not have come at a better time. Having faced the ignominy of being beaten by England at home (2-1) just a couple of days before the Australian team landed, the series win against Australia is just what the team with many new faces wanted.

India have now beaten Australia in eight of the 10 Tests played since their last defeat in Nagpur (2004). The other two matches were draws.

The last Test starts in Delhi on Friday and India will be raring to go to avenge their 0-4 defeat against Australia Down Under in 2011-12.

@shekharluthra