India's players pose with the trophy after winning the The Border–Gavaskar series. (AP)India vs Australia 4th Test Day 5 Highlights: The fourth Test ended in a dull stalemate with Indian winning the four-match series 2-1 and retaining the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2023. This is the fourth consecutive series win for India against the Aussies. As a result, the Rohit Sharma-led side have also won their 16th consecutive Test series at home.
The two teams will clash again in the World Test Championship (WTC) Final. The WTC title contest will take place at The Oval in London from June 7.
With New Zealand having defeated Sri Lanka on the last ball of the first Test in Christchurch, India have qualified for the WTC Final this June alongside Australia. Sri Lanka needed to win both of their matches against the Black Caps to have a chance but a century from Kane Williamson denied them one on Monday.
Our National Sports Editor Sandeep Dwivedi and senior writer Sriram Veera are covering the Test from the venue in Ahmedabad.
India
571 (178.5)Australia
480 (167.2) & 175/2 (78.1)India drew with Australia
India's Virat Kohli raises his bat to celebrate scoring a century during the fourth day of the fourth Test. (AP Photo)
On the series
"Yeah thanks Ravi. It was really a hard fought series. We were put in extreme pressure at times. When we needed someone to put an impactful performance, we found them. Rohit notched up a century in the first Test, Virat Kohli put up a 180 runs knock when needed. Be it Axar, Ashwin jadeja and if I miss any names, I think we have put up a good fight.
Australia putting up 480 in this match, we needed someone to step up and respond to them. It has been a heartening thing for me as a coach. Australia are the no.1 team in the Test. To be able to fight against them and step up when required it has been a great thing.
On Shubman Gill
It has been some exciting 4-5 months for Shubman,. Scoring a hundred in the white ball format, scoring a double hundred, and century here. Coming up and maturing, taking on the responsibility, putting up the performances that is in demand. Works hard for his skills, great opportunity for him to learn from Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, to watch Steve Smith bat in the opposition. Lovely kid, a good thing for him to learn and grow.
On NZ vs SL Test match
We followed it over four or five overs. We followed it in bits and pieces. It's not easy tp produce results home and away. To get the chane to play in the Oval again, it is a great thing to put the performances and play the final again.
On Australian spinners
It has been absolutely brilliant. He has been exceptional the way he bowled. Just the kind of pressure or the control he gave. And also the two spinners they came with - Matt Kuhnemann and Todd Murohy, they were brilliant. Great thing for them to not leak runs and maintain the pressure. Some of the players were saying like Panesar and Swann, they haven't played a quality spin attack,m but to have this attack with Nathan Lyon has been brilliant thing.
ON WTC final
Kartik, we just qualified at Lunch time today, I didn't count my chickens before they hatched. Obviously, we have the three One Day matches, we will play. It is going to be a challenge. There are logistics. There is the IPL and the WTC final as well. It is a big game, the boys are excited and keen on it too. We will think about it and plan forward."
"We tried to put him under pressure. But I don't think he was under any pressure. I think the pacers bowled well, But he doesn't give you many areas you know. He doesn't give you much half-volleys or short balls. It is important for you to be patient and take the singles. When you're batting it is more about the bowlers. He takes the pressure.
To be honest, I think, on this wicket in this wicket you re not bowling in the roughs, there is nothing for the bowlers. The kept bowling in the wickets and I played my shots"
" It has been a tough challenge. Obviously coming over here, in India, we know it is going to be tough but it has been rewarding, our group can take a lot out of it. There are some areas we can improve but there are some proud moments along the way. Totally different surface, didn't really have much in it and it was pretty hard work to bowl out here. It can be quite challenging but it is up to us as bowlers to try and get the guys caught in the crease and make them play false shots. Totally different to the first three pitches, lot compacted and not many footmarks. We were watching the score (NZ-SL game) but we kinda knew we were going to face India in the final. it is going to be pretty exciting, we have got a really good lead up into it, a bit of time off and then some preparation, but looking forward to it. I feel I have been able to play a big role in the start of their (Murphy and Kuhnemann) Test journey, I know Matty is keen to have a word with Jadeja tonight, they should head home pretty proud on what they have achieved, it is no easy feat to bowl against the best players of spin."
Steven Smith shakes hands with Rohit Sharma. The fourth Test ends in a dull stalemate with Indian winning the four-match series 2-1 and retaining the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2023 and it's the fourth consecutive series win against the Aussies. The Rohit Sharma-led side have won their 16th consecutive Test series at home.
Leg-spinner Cheteshwar Pujara with six first-class wickets comes in to bowl. This is only the second over Pujara has bowled in his 102 Test match career. Australia lead by 84 runs. (Australia are 175 for 2 after 78 overs)
Shubman Gill comes into ball. he is bowling for the first time in his international career. One run came from that over. Australia lead by 83 runs. (Australia are 174 for 2 after 77 overs)
Six overs have been bowled after the Teat break. Given there were 32 overs remaining, for both the captains to shake hands we have to wait for 10 more overs. Australia lead by 80 runs. (Australia are 171 for 2 after 70.3 overs)
Great shot by Steve Smith. Length delivery wide outside the off. Smith hangs back and cuts it through the deep backward point region for a four. Australia lead by 75 runs. (Australia are 166 for 2 after 67 overs)
Steve Smith gets off the mark with a boundary. He uses the feet and smokes over the bowler's head this time. Some aggressive approach from Smith first up. Fuller one outside the off a bit. The batter shimmies down, and thumps it towards long on. Australia lead by 71 runs. (Australia are 162 for 2 after 65 overs)
Australia have lost just two wickets. They are leading by 67 runs. Indian players are out in the middle. Steve Smith and Marnus Labushchagne are taking their guards. R Ashwin to start the proceedings for India. (Australia are 158 for 2 after 64 overs)
We are back for the last session of the Border-Gavaskar Series. There's no demon on the pitch and it will be only the matter of overs before both the captains will shake hands.
Last over before Tea, Axar Patel. Marnus Labuschagne blocks him off. That last one whiskers past the outside edge to the keeper. 158/2 and that is it for the second session.
A loose one from Ashwin, wide and outside off, crunched square past cover for four from Steve Smith. Gets off the mark with that boundary. 158/2.
Edge and dropped!
KS Bharat drops Steve Smith (0 off 11) off Axar Patel.
With Travis Head in the middle, Australia took the attack to India with boundaries in regular periods. These two however, seem to treating it as a net session. Blocking almost everything Ashwin and Axar are throwing at them at the moment. 153/2.
Steve Smith joins Marnus Labuschagne at the other end. Another maiden follows. From Ravichandran Ashwin. Another wicket here and India may rethink on shaking hands by Tea. 153/2.
Axar Patel cleans up Travis Head with a beauty as his 50th Test wicket. Over the wicket to the southpaw and that one turned in between the bat and pads as Head pressed forward for a drive before affecting the top of off stump. Australia two down for 153.
Ravindra Jadeja is slow to latch onto an incoming delivery to impact a run out at the non striker's end. That's the state of the body language of this game. It may be any time now that the two sets of players shake hands. 153/1
First fifty on the tour for Marnus Labuschagne. On the last day of the tour. 15th in Test cricket. Another half volley on the leg stump from Umesh Yadav, met with appropriate treatment. Four past the fielder at mid wicket. A double off the next ball to raise his bat. 150 up for Australia as well. 150/1.
With the turn on offer, only right. Ashwin over the wicket to Travis Head, bringing the ball in from outside the leg stump with his arm ball. One that deceives the southpaw completely. He's planted his leg, further down the leg stump to avoid the stumps being exposed off the turn. Four off that over. 144/1.
A half volley, drifting down the leg from Umesh Yadav to Marnus Labuschagne, who uses his wrists to on drive it wide of mid wicket for four. 140/1, Australia.
India have spread the field apart, even for the spinners and both Head and Labuschagne are capitalising upon it. A double, two singles off that over. The body language of this match shouts out loud, DRAW. Or atleast heading towards it at the moment. 134/1.
Umesh Yadav comes on for Mohammed Shami. Offers a juicy one full and wide outside and Head flat-bat drives it through extra cover for four. 130/1.
Jadeja tosses it up to Head in that over. A half appeal for the southpaw but it seems like he had advanced down more than 3m to the impact point. 124/1.
Shami from over the wicket to the left hander. Four dots in a row before one of the leg stump is flicked down deep mid wicket from Head for a single. Angles one in to Labuschagne, who flicks it to mid wicket off the last one for another dot. 124/1.
Shout out for an LBW but it quickly dies off. Not really in line. Australia get just a leg bye off that Shami over. A drive to long on for another single off Jadeja's next. 123/1 and it's time for a drinks break.
No run from Jadeja off the first five deliveries and then it seems like he's wrapped it up as a maiden before....the siren buzzes around the Motera. NO BALL. Chief statsman, Mohandas Menon in the broadcast background suggests the left armer has lost 10 wickets in his career owing to a step over. We've seen that happen in this series as well. Any ways, the last legal delivery is another dot. 121/1.
Ravindra Jadeja replaces Ravichandran Ashwin. Mohammed Shami on instead of Axar Patel from the other end. The early onslaught from Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne has put India on the backfoot. A win looks out of picture at the moment. Head cuts Shami in front of square on the off for four. Just a little room offered outside off, quick roll of the wrists from the southpaw. 120/1, Australia.
100 up for Australia with a Travis Head (64) six down the ground. The shackles are starting to break now. Marnus Labuschagne (35) on the other end, also finding the boundaries. 12 off the over, Australia are 105/1 after 45 overs.
First ball of the over. Down the leg side from Axar and Labuschagne pounces onto it with a leg glance down long leg for four. The left armer caters to his arm ball before the last one turns after pitching, beats Marnus by a long way. 93/1.
Axar on the bounce to Head, who places it nicely past the slip for four. That's a well made fifty after Australia lost an early wicket on the last day. This one is moving towards the inevitable draw as it seems now. Australia, 88/1.
A short one from Ashwin, off breaker but picked up by Marnus Labuschagne as he gives himself room on the leg to punch square past cover for four. First boundary since Lunch. Five off that over, 82/1.
Two words, five syllables. NO RUN! Marnus Labuschagne's favorite two words on the pitch. And exactly what Axar has done in this this over. Another maiden for India. 77/1.
Loud lbw shout out against Travis Head. Umpire Richard Kettleborough offers nothing. The impact looked extremely close to the off stump but Rohit Sharma was sure this wasn't DRS worthy. And the ball tracker proves he's right. Was pitching outside leg stump. Australia, 77/1.
Couple of quick overs from Ashwin and Jadeja. Four runs has been added. Australia trail India by 14 runs with 9 wickets remaining. (Australia are 77 for 1 after 38 overs)
With Sri Lanka losing the first Test against New Zealand in the two-match series, Australia and India have been locked in as the 2023 World Test Championship finalists.
Kane Williamson is the hero as he steers New Zealand to a thrilling two-wicket win over Sri Lanka. India will take on Sri Lanka in the WTC final at the Oval.
Australia started the day 3-0 in 6 overs with Matt Kuhnemann and Travis Head at the crease. India started off with R Ashwin and Mohammed Shami from either end. There was turn in the pitch but India failed to rush through the visitors and the field placement too was sometimes questionable by the Indian skipper Rohit Sharma. Kuhnemann was dismissed in the first hour off an undercutter from Ashwin. It was missing the stumps on replays, but the nightwatchmen sacrificed his wicket for the top-order batters. Labuschagne joined Head in the middle, and the dup played a few outrageous shots and targeted the spinners. They slogged a few over mid-on and mid-wicket and eased off 59 runs partnership together. However, there were plenty of oohs and aahs and Head survived a close call right at the stroke of Lunch. Australia are still trailling 18 runs.
Australia trail India by 18 runs. Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne has done well to defy India. Australia trail India by 18 runs with 9 wickets remaining. (Australia are 73 for 1 after 36 overs)
Ashwin was excited and he convinced Rohit to review after it is given not out for leg before and it was the umpire's call. Australia trail India by 19 runs with 9 wickets remaining. (Australia are 72 for 1 after 35 overs)
Umesh Yadav comes into the attack for the first time in this innings and two came from his first over. Australia trail India by 21 runs with 9 wickets remaining. (Australia are 70 for 1 after 34 overs)
A solid 50 runs partnership between Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne. They have their anxious moments but have done well.
Back-to-back boundaries. Travis Head has been brilliant since the morning. He has shown intent right from the word go. Australia trail India by 26 runs with 9 wickets remaining. (Australia are 65 for 1 after 31 overs)
There is plenty of oohs and aahs, play and miss but nothing to show for the wicket column. Both head and Marnus has survived so far. They are slowly steadied Australia's ship. Australia trail India by 34 runs with 9 wickets remaining. (Australia are 57 for 1 after 30 overs)
Length ball keeps low around the off-stump line. Labuschagne strides forward and tries to defend. Gets an inside edge back onto the pads which were well infront the stumps, saving him. Replays show that it was the pad first and then the inside edge. Australia trail India by 37 runs with 9 wickets remaining. (Australia are 54 for 1 after 29 overs)
Ashwin invites the drive and Head uses his feet and thumped it straight over the bowler's head for a maximum. First six for Australia in this match. Australia trail India by 41 runs with 9 wickets remaining. (Australia are 50 for 1 in 26 overs)
Loud appeal but it was always missing leg. The skipper had a word with the bowler and the keeper. But they decided against a review. That was easily sliding down leg. Australia trail India by 49 runs with 9 wickets remaining. (Australia are 42 for 1 in 24 overs)
Head flays it through the off-side for a four. Was very full and Head went after it with disdain. Australia trail India by 49 runs with 9 wickets remaining. (Australia are 42 for 1 in 23 overs)
Ashwin comes back into the attack and Marnus hits him for a boundary. He shimmied down the track and lofted to over mid-on for a boundary. Australia re chipping away with that deficit. Australia trail India by 54 runs with 9 wickets remaining. (Australia are 37 for 1 in 22 overs)
Crunched by Travis Head. Jadeja bowled short and wide of off and Head stays deep and then cuts it in front of square on the off-side. Australia trail India by 58 runs with 9 wickets remaining. (Australia are 33 for 1 in 21 overs)
Axar Patel starts off with a maiden. Axar Patel needs one wicket to reach the 50 Test wickets. Australia trail India by 65 runs with 9 wickets remaining. (Australia are 26 for 1 in 20 overs)
Marnus breaks the shackles. Good use of the feet, gets down at the pitch and Marnus removes the rough out of the equation. Slogged towards the widish long on region for a four. Australia trail India by 65 runs with 9 wickets remaining. (Australia are 26 for 1 in 19 overs)
Another maiden over. Jadeja this time. The Indian spinners are probing the Aussie batters. A good battle between the bat and the ball. Australia trail India by 70 runs with 9 wickets remaining. (Australia are 21 for 1 in 18 overs)
What a fantastic over by R Ashwin. he has mixed his pace excellently and has almost got Head a couple of times. A maiden over. Australia trail India by 70 runs with 9 wickets remaining. (Australia are 21 for 1 in 17 overs)
Ravindra Jadeja for the first time in the morning. Lots of chatter around the batter. Australia trail India by 70 runs with 9 wickets remaining. (Australia are 21 for 1 in 15.2 overs)
Length ball angling into the stumps. Labuschagne flicks it away through the mid-wicket region for a three. He opens his account. Australia trail India by 71 runs with 9 wickets remaining. (Australia are 20 for a in 14 overs)
R Ashwin has dismissed all 15 Australian batters at least once in this series.
Australia trail by 74 runs. (Australia re 17 for 1 in 13 overs)
Replays show the wickets were missing in Kuhnemann's lbw dismissal.
R Ashwin gets the first wicket of the morning. He traps Kuhnemann with an under cutter. Kuhnemann decides against the review as Head wasn't in favour of it. Aah and it was missing the stumps. Australia trail by 77 runs. (Australia are 14 for 1 after 11 overs)
A testing over from Mohammed Shami. Kuhnemann did well to survive this burst from Shami. One run came from that over. Australia trail by 77 runs. (Australia are 14 for 0 after 10 overs)