Australia reclaims Border-Gavaskar Trophy with emphatic 3-1 series win over India at the SCG
Australia ended a decade-long wait to regain the prestigious Border-Gavaskar Trophy with a commanding six-wicket victory over India in the final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). The triumph not only sealed a 3-1 series win for Australia but also secured their spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final, where they will face South Africa at Lord’s.
The result was a bitter blow for India, as their hopes of reaching a third consecutive WTC final came crashing down. The mood in the Indian camp reflected the disappointment, with stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah and head coach Gautam Gambhir visibly dejected as Australia’s victory unfolded.
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The Test took a decisive turn on the third day, with India’s batting order collapsing in the opening hour. Resuming their innings, India faced a fiery Australian attack led by skipper Pat Cummins and Scott Boland.
Ravindra Jadeja fell early in the day, edging a delivery from Cummins. Washington Sundar followed soon after, bowled by Cummins for a gritty 12 off 43 balls.
Jasprit Bumrah, who had earlier left the field on Day 2 due to back spasms, returned to the crease with a determined mindset. However, his aggressive intent backfired as he was bowled by Boland while attempting a wild swing on the very first ball he faced.
Boland continued to wreak havoc, dismissing Mohammed Siraj and Bumrah in quick succession. India’s innings folded at 157, leaving Australia with a modest target of 162 runs to chase for victory.
Australia’s chase got off to a flying start, with Sam Konstas taking full advantage of Bumrah’s absence from the bowling attack. Bumrah, who had shown signs of discomfort during the Test, did not take the field for the second innings, leaving India’s bowling department in the hands of Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna.
Siraj struggled with his line and length, conceding 13 runs in the first over. Prasidh Krishna, too, gave away runs in his opening over as Australia capitalized on the lack of pressure.
However, Prasidh provided a brief glimmer of hope before lunch by picking up three quick wickets. Sam Konstas mistimed a shot to Washington Sundar, Marnus Labuschagne edged one to Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Steven Smith fell short of reaching the 10,000-run milestone in Test cricket.
Smith’s dismissal was particularly memorable, with Prasidh extracting extra bounce and forcing the Australian batter to fend off a rising delivery. Jaiswal took a stunning catch at third slip, sparking brief celebrations among the Indian players.
Despite India’s brief fightback, Australia remained in control. Travis Head and debutant Beau Webster held their nerve, guiding the hosts to victory in the second session.
India’s bowlers continued to toil, with Siraj managing to dismiss Usman Khawaja, but the breakthrough was too little, too late. Head and Webster ensured there were no further hiccups, steering Australia to a famous win at the SCG.
Webster, playing his debut match, finished the chase in style by hitting a boundary, bringing the Border-Gavaskar Trophy back to Australia. Head remained unbeaten on 34 off 38 balls, while Webster contributed 39 off 34 balls.
Brief Scores:
- Brief Scores: India: 185 & 157 (Rishabh Pant 61, Yashasvi Jaiswal 22, Scott Boland 6/45)
- Australia 181 & 162/4 (Travis Head 34, Beau Webster 39; Prasidh Krishna 3-65).
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