Another Test got over well inside three days. The result was again in favour of India as on this occasion at the Kotla in New Delhi on Sunday, they prevailed over Australia by six wickets to seal the second Test and take an unbeatable 2-0 lead, which also helped them retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

This was India’s 100th win against Australia across formats.

Ravindra Jadeja, after his all-round showing in the opening Test in Nagpur, starred again as he exposed a technically ill-equipped and also mentally messed up Australian batting unit with a career-best 7/42 that enabled India to not just bounce back, but also win the game within the first two sessions of Day III.

Australia, though, remain atop the World Test Championship (WTC) standings despite the defeat reducing their percentage tally to 66.67. India widened the gap between themselves and the third spot, courtesy their victory in the second Test, moving to 64.06.

Following India’s victory, South Africa drop out of contention for the WTC final, unable to reach the percentage points required to break into the top two that left Sri Lanka as the lone challenger for a place in the decider.

For Australia, their batters paid the price for atrocious shot selection and their over-dependence on the sweep. Jadeja, who enjoyed a 10-wicket match haul, along with Ravichandran Ashwin (3/59) cashed in on that as the duo decimated the visitors in the morning session to bowl the visitors out for 113 in their second innings.

The Australians lost nine wickets for only 52 in the morning session of the third day.

In pursuit of 115, India again lost KL Rahul (1) early, but the rest held their nerves, tried to remain composed and avoided the thoughtless use of the sweep as they reached the target in 26.4 overs.

Cheteshwar Pujara had something to cheer about on his 100th Test appearance as he remained unbeaten on 31 and fittingly hit the winning boundary.

Cheteshwar Pujara in New Delhi on Sunday. PTI photo

Earlier, resuming on 61/1, Jadeja’s arm balls became lethal with as many as five Australian batters getting out trying to play the sweep and slog sweep off deliveries that kept low. Steve Smith, Matt Renshaw, Alex Carry, Pat Cummins and Matt Kuhnemann were all guilty of playing the ugly slog sweep that led to their departure.

Ashwin also played the supporting act to perfection as eight Australian batters failed to reach double figures save the overnight pair of Travis Head and Marnus Labschagne, who had briefly counter-attacked on Saturday evening with some degree of success. But it all changed in Sunday’s morning session once Head got an off-break from Ashwin and the edge was caught well by KS Bharat behind the stumps.

Thereafter, Steve Smith was trapped plumb in front while Labuschagne, who looked confident until then, went on backfoot to a delivery that was supposed to be played on the front foot with a big stride. Labuschagne was bowled as the ball kept low.

Concussion substitute Matt Renshaw, coming in for David Warner, appeared to be a sitting duck and it took Ashwin just a few minutes to get him out lbw. The only delivery to be that of a classic left-arm orthodox was the one bowled to Peter Handscomb by Jadeja.

It was a tossed-up delivery from Jadeja as he drew Handscomb forward before the ball turned away enough to get an outside edge into Virat Kohli’s hands. Pat Cummins’ ugly slog sweep was more out of anger and frustration rather than purpose and Kuhnemann, while gifting Jadeja his seventh wicket, looked as clueless as possible.

When India began the run chase, skipper Rohit Sharma (31) showed how to tackle the Australian spinners before being run out due to a mix-up. Importantly, he took the pressure off his team which made the chase easier.

Stat-o-sphere

⚫ Virat Kohli, during his second innings knock on Sunday, became the sixth batter to reach 25,000 international runs. He is the fastest to do so. The top three are: 549 innings — Virat Kohli 577 innings — Sachin Tendulkar 588 innings — Ricky Ponting

⚫ Kohli, in his 180th innings, was stumped for the first time in his Test career. It was also Australia keeper Alex Carey’s first Test stumping in his 17th Test match.

⚫ Ravindra Jadeja’s 7/42 was his best Test bowling figures in an innings. His previous best was 7/48 versus England in Chennai in 2016.

⚫ Since losing to the West Indies by 5 wickets in November, 1987, India’s Test record at Delhi has been: Played 13 Won 11 Drawn 2.

⚫ This is the first time in their Test cricket history that three Australian spinners have occupied the first three positions in the bowling order in an innings in the Delhi Test. Travis Head later became the fourth spinner to be used.

⚫ This was Australia’s 21st Test loss in Asia since October 2008. Out of the 34 Tests they have played in the continent since October 2008, Australia have won only five, while managing to draw eight. Only South Africa have a poorer record in Asia since 2008.

⚫ Since June 2018, India has played 18 Tests at home, out of which only three have gone on to the fifth day. They have lost only one of those 18 Tests.

Here’s a break-up:

⚫ 2-day finish: 2 Tests

⚫ 3-day finish: 9 Tests

⚫ 4-day finish: 4 Tests

⚫ 5-day finish: 3 Tests

Mohandas Menon