Spin magic helps India retain Border Gavaskar trophy

India clinched an emphatic victory over Australia by 6 wickets in the second Test match of the four-match series, taking an unassailable lead of 2-0.

India’s victory in the second Test ensured that they retained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, having won the previous edition of the series in Australia.

India was set a target of 115 runs in the fourth innings, which they comfortably achieved with the help of Cheteshwar Pujara’s unbeaten 31.

During India’s innings, Virat Kohli also created a new record by becoming the fastest batter to score 25,000 international runs.

Kohli achieved this feat in just 549 innings across 492 matches, surpassing another Indian cricket legend, Sachin Tendulkar, who achieved it in 577 innings.

Australia started the day on 61 for the loss of one wicket, but a brilliant bowling display from Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin put India in a commanding position.

Australia was in a strong position at 86 for 2, but they lost their last eight wickets for just 28 runs, eventually being bundled out for a paltry score of 113 runs.

Jadeja registered a seven-wicket haul, taking career-best figures of 7/42 in 12.1 overs.

Among the seven wickets taken by Jadeja, five were bowled dismissals, a feat achieved by a spinner for the first time in 20 years since Anil Kumble achieved it against South Africa in Joburg in 1992.

Ravichandran Ashwin also contributed with three wickets in 16 overs.

In the second innings, India got off to a shaky start, losing KL Rahul for just 1.

A mix-up in the middle between Rohit Sharma and Cheteshwar Pujara resulted in the former being run-out.

Virat Kohli was also dismissed for 20 while trying to attack the bowling. Shreyas Iyer fell trying to force the scoring rate.

However, Pujara remained unbeaten to guide India to victory with no further alarms.

Jadeja was declared Man of the match for his all-round contribution.

Jadeja said, “I think I was enjoying my bowling and this kind of wicket suits me.”

“I was just looking to bowl at stumps and I knew they were going to sweep.”

“I always keep things simple, and even yesterday they were looking for runs and their intent was very aggressive.”

India 262 (Axar 74, Kohli 44, Lyon 5-67) and 118 for 4 beat Australia 263 (Khawaja 81, Handscomb 72*, Shami 4-60) and 113 (Head 43, Jadeja 7-42, Ashwin 3-59) by six wickets