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#INDvAUS: Class of 2016-17

India win final Test by 8 wickets to regain Border-Gavaskar Trophy with 2-1 series margin and finish long home season on high

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Team India players and support staff pose for a photograph with the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, ICC Test mace for being World No. 1 team at end of season as well as individual ICC awards after beating Australia in the final Test as fans wave India flag behind in Dharamsala on Tuesday
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One of the most intensely fought series in recent times on Indian soil finished in anti-climactic way with Australia meekly surrendering on the fourth day of the final Test here on Tuesday.

With India needing 87 more to win, Australia could hardly pose any threat and the hosts cantered to their target with the loss of just two wickets. Stand-in skipper Ajinkya Rahane blasted Aussie thunderbolt Pat Cummins for two consecutive sixes and hit four other fours in his 27-ball 38 not out to help India score an empathetic eight-wicket victory to not only regain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with 2-1 aggregate score but also ending the season as the top-ranked Test team in the world.

India, thus, ended an amazing home season with 10 wins, two draws and one defeat out of 13 Tests since last September. Add the tour of the West Indies in July-August and India's impressive Test record reads 12 wins, four draws and a loss in 17 Tests in the last nine months.

India came up with splendid bowling efforts on Monday to dismiss Australia for a paltry 137. And after subtracting the 32-run first innings lead, hosts needed just 106 to complete the formalities. Openers Murali Vijay and Rahul held on for 13 overs to ensure that Aussies dream of inflicting any collapse faded away with this. Rahul, in particular, never looked in any kind of trouble against any of the opponent bowler on way to his sixth fifty in seven innings this series, and fifth on the trot.

Cummins gave Aussies the first breakthrough when he had Vijay caught behind for an edgy eight. He was lucky to have survived a similar fate in the previous over of Cummins when Australians didn't press for a DRS but television reviews were showing a clear kiss with the gloves. There was no need to worry at this stage as 46 runs were already on the board.

Cheteshwar Pujara was the next to go in an unorthodox style. Having been known for his calm and composed body language, a sudden rush of blood made him run for a non-existent single. He returned to his dressing room for nought as Glenn Maxwell didn't miss a direct hit. It was the first time in 50 innings at home that Pujara failed to open his account.

Rahane, in his new role as captain, came out in a different mood to lead the side with example. His first shot was a straight drive for four, while an equally impressive pull shot of fiery Cummins that followed showed his intent.

With Indian Premier League season starting in eight days' time, Rahane changed his mode a bit early to showcase some of his shorter version shots.

And, what a man he chose to execute his skills. After hitting Cummins out of boundary with a pull shot over mid-wicket boundary, he stepped away from the crease to lift the next one over covers for another six.

And, when the moment came, it was a much-calmer Rahane at display shaking hands with Australians. Rahane has, thus, proved that without showing any extra aggression or emotion on the face, he could play some fierce cricket out there in the middle.

India have accomplished a unique feat with this 2-1 Test series victory. They now hold the bilateral trophies against all the Test-playing nations. India's victory run began in August 2015 when they beat Sri Lanka in their own backyard 2-1 in a three-Test series.

After that it was 3-0 in the four-Test series against South Africa at home. Then came the away series where 2-0 result came against lowly West Indies. The just-ended home run started with a 3-0 whitewash against New Zealand , while England managed to draw one in a 4-0 loss out of five.

Bangladesh's lone Test tour of India also ended in a defeat at Hyderabad before now accomplishing this feat against the No. 2 Test team.

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