India has tied up the Test series against Australia at 1-1 with a decisive eight-wicket victory in the second game at the MCG.
Australia now has to win one of the remaining two Tests and at least draw the other to reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which is currently held by India thanks to their historic away series win in 2018/19.
India was only chasing 70 for victory, but the Australian bowling attack would have had a sliver of hope after bowling them out for 36 in the first Test in Adelaide.
The early wickets of Mayank Agarwal (5) and Cheteshwar Pujara (3) raised some eyebrows, but captain Ajinkya Rahane and impressive debutant Shubman Gill calmly steered the tourists home.
Earlier, Cameron Green and Pat Cummins resumed their overnight partnership and reached 57 before Cummins punched a short ball from Jasprit Bumrah to Agarwal at first slip for an important 103-ball 22.
Green fell next, picking out Ravindra Jadeja at mid-wicket with a mis-timed hook shot for 45 — the highest score of the innings.
Nathan Lyon (3) and Josh Hazlewood (10) provided minimal resistance, with Starc unbeaten on 14, which left India the paltry target of just 70 to level the series.
Look back at all the action from day four in our live blog below.
Live updates
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INDIA WINS BY EIGHT WICKETS!
What a turn around from India. They were a long price to do anything in this contest after the humiliation at Adelaide Oval, but within 10 days they have bounced back and dominated this match to level things up at 1-1 in the series.
If you think back even further, India was given no chance in any Test that Virat Kohli was absent for, but even without their skipper, and missing Mohammed Shami who is out with a broken arm, they have come out on top on Australian cricket’s biggest stage.
The stand-in Indian skipper Ajinkya Rahane should be handed the man of the match award for his brilliant 112 in the first innings, but it was just as fitting that he hit the winning runs.
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Australia vs India
By Simon Smale
Thanks everyone
Right, we’re closing things up here on the live blog
OK, I think it’s about time that we wrap things up here for now as we absorb what a brilliant performance that was from India, one of the great responses to adversity that you’re likely to see in sport.
Thanks to you all for being with us over the last four days. Russell Jackson‘s analysis of the day will be up on the ABC Sport website shortly, so get your eyes around that when it drops.
There’s obviously a bit of housekeeping still required to be ironed out, including where the third Test is going to be played, but what I can tell you is that Jon Healy and Dean Bilton will be on duty to bring you all the action from it here on the blog.
Thanks once again for being a part of our coverage, from Simon Smale and Dean Bilton, good bye.
Audience comment by Gangesh
Two things mark this tremendous Test win: India conquered the Aussies a week after a most humiliating Test debacle, and then this was achieved sans the most consistent, influential batsman and skipper King Kohli. Grahame can be justly proud of this great Test victory.
By Simon Smale
By Simon Smale
By Simon Smale
Tim Paine: Australia played “sloppy cricket”
The Australian skipper Tim Paine said Australia did not play good cricket and were their own worst enemies.
“Obviously we are very disappointed. We played pretty poor cricket and sloppy cricket for much of the Test match,” Paine said.
“That’s to take nothing away from India. They played well and forced us into a number of mistakes with the bat and in the field and when you do that against good sides, you make it very hard to win.
“I think you have to give the Indian attack credit. They bowled beautifully to us. No doubt about that.
“We haven’t adapted as well as we would have liked and as a batting group, no doubt we are very disappointed with what we have put up in the first two Test matches, but there is still two to go. We will work hard and try and rectify it in the next match.”
By Simon Smale
Ajinkya Rahane is man of the match
“I’m really proud of all the players, ” Rahane said, saying the two debutantes deserved particular credit.
“Character was really important going into this Test match”
He said that Gill “batted really well and in this game he showed intent that he can play shots at this level.”
He added that Siraj “bowled with discipline. Sometimes you can get carried away but when guys play first class cricket for four or five years and then come to Test cricket, they know what to do actually and it becomes really easy for the captain.
“The talk [during the Test] was all about showing that I could do it on the field, showing intent on the field and character.
“That matters a lot. I learnt as I said that character and attitude was very important going into the Test match, but for a lot of us as a
team.
“I thought the Australians in the end lost fire because our batters applied themselves very well. It was hard for us because they have good bowlers, but it is good for every individual to show character and win this Test match.”
He said that Yadav could be fit for the third Test and that he was recovering well.
By Simon Smale
The BLOG was the winner. Thanks again team.
-Mike
You’re most welcome, and thanks to everyone for their comments
Audience comment by Mandy
Thank you again Dean and Simon for your tireless blogging of another test match. It really helps keen cricket fans (like me) who, for whatever reason, don’t always have access to a TV!
By Simon Smale
Here’s hoping for a New Year’s test in Melbourne now. Since we missed out on AFL GF, it’d only be fair! Thanks for the blog Simon and Dean, Happy New Year!
-In Melb
We’ve not heard where the third Test will be played yet, but I think things are shaping up for it to be played in Sydney, In Melb.
I’ve no doubt we’ll hear more about that soon though.
By Simon Smale
16th over – Lyon to bowl what could be the last
Rahane is back, defending the first.
Oh confusion! They wanted a quick single that was not on, but the Indian skipper was sent back! That would have been a frustrating way to end the match for the skipper.
Green has fielded the last three balls, but Hazlewood can’t grab the fourth!
Match over! India wins!
Audience comment by longingforgifs
So, what do you reckon? Worth me taking tomorrow off work to watch the rest of the game? *laughs hysterically*
Audience comment by John
HAPPY NEW YEAR, let’s move on hey!!! India has got this one.
Audience comment by Paul
I don’t think Australia can do anything, game to india, 1 all going into the third test, wherever that maybe and a happy new year to you guys.<br>A big thank you.
By Simon Smale
15th over – Marnus Labuschagne comes into the attack
Rahane hooks and that’s one.
Gill jumps on a full toss and that’s four down to long on!
Late cut, there’s a single.
India now needs four runs to win.
Another push into the off side, where it is fielded.
A short ball is not quite punished as much as it could have been by Rahane.
That one is though! A lovely push into the covers! It’s not gone to the boundary! Stopped on the line and that’s three.
Scores are tied!
By Simon Smale
14th over – Lyon to Rahane
He fends the first away.
Then Rahane lofts one to wide long on! Starc is there! Dropped it! He got both hands to it too!
In and out again – that’s disappointing. Eight drops in the match from Australia now?
Rahane fends away for a single backwards of square on the leg side.
Gill is forward defending the last. Over.
By Simon Smale
13th over – Hazlewood continues to Gill
Gill defends the first, then flirts with a ball that drifts down the leg side, Paine takes the catch.
There’s a tick over 13,000 in the MCG to see the death throes of this match.
Shot! Hooked well in front of square off a Hazlewood short ball and that’s four runs, easily.
A dot last ball to end the over, four from it.
India needs 13 runs to win.
By Simon Smale
I’m going to go out on a limb and predict a win for India
-Mike
Wild prediction, Mike.
By Simon Smale
12th over – Nathan Lyon is coming on, and he’s on a hattrick!
What can the GOAT do? He’s not being helped by the field… Just two men around the bat, a slip and a short leg.
Gill fends into the off side. A dud of a hattrick ball.
Lyon asking questions, angling the ball in to Gill, who fends forward off the next couple.
A single into the off side.
Now there’s a whole heap of people around the bat, three close catchers and a short mid on for Rahane.
Over.
