IND VS AUS - 3rd Test, Australia tour of India, 2023

That's another Test in this series which has finished within three days. And it was Australia who came out on top. They might not have a chance to win the series but there's still a chance to draw it and if this game's performance is anything to go by then we can expect an even contest in Ahmedabad. Both teams have almost a week to prepare for that Test and hopefully it will be a fitting finale to what has been a superb series. So, that's a wrap for now. This is Akshay Maanay signing off on behalf of Raju Peethala, Sagar Chawla and Mukesh. Cheers!

Nathan Lyon | Player of the Match: It has been a pretty remarkable Test series. But to come out here and put a really good team performance that is something I am really proud about. Today to see the boys get there one down is pretty special. I don't have all the tricks or all the trades in the game but one thing I do have is belief in my stock ball and that is the biggest thing in world cricket, if you believe in your best ball then you can challenge the best players in the world for longer periods of time. I don't think I have mastered it (bowling to Indian batters), I have been lucky enough to get some of the best players like Virat and Pujara and the others, I just love challenging myself at this level and get a big thrill out of that.

Steve Smith: Everything I guess (on what he attributes the win to). The first day losing the toss, having to bowl first.. Our bowlers got the ball in the right areas and put India under pressure. I thought Kuhnemann was really good on the first day. All our bowlers contributed and bowled in partnerships, first innings Usman was outstanding and he's been really good for us this series. Yesterday India fought back and I thought we had to toil really hard, Puji played an outstanding innings but we really stuck at it, Nathan got all the rewards with 8 wickets but I think our bowlers as a collective were really good. It was a complete performance. We are thinking about Patty, who's gone back home, our thoughts are with him. I really enjoyed it and like captaining in this part of the world as I understand the conditions really well. There's an event every ball and a lot different to the other parts of the world, and I did a reasonable job this week. Much the same, we will wait and see what the conditions are like, but we are really proud to clinch a spot in the WTC final. Hopefully we can put a similar performance and draw the series.

Rohit Sharma: When you lose a Test match, there are a lot of things which didn't go our way, to start with we didn't bat well in the 1st innings, we understand how important it is to put runs on the board in the 1st innings and when they got 80-90 runs lead, we had to produce another innings with the bat but we were not able to do that again. We got just 75 on the board, if we batted well in the 1st innings, things would have been slightly different. We haven't thought about it yet (WCT final), we have sometime to think about what we need to do there (Ahmedabad Test). We need to regroup and try and understand what we did right in the first 2 games. We need to understand, no matter what the pitches are, you gotta come out and do the job. We need to keep it simple and follow the plan. When you are playing on challenging pitches, we need to be brave. We allowed their bowlers to bowl on one particular spot. Not taking any credit away from their bowlers. especially Nathan Lyon, he kept challenging us hitting the right lengths. When the bowler is trying to do that, gotta be a little brave which I thought we were not. Things happen like that, but we can take a lot of credit about how we batted in the first 2 games. Its all about everyone coming together and chipping in. We want few guys stand up and put their hand up to take the team through. You will falter in your plans and that's what happened in this game, we didn't adapt as well as we would have liked to.

Smudge, the skipper, turns up: Steve Smith may not be having the best of times with the bat this series, but his captaincy has been absolutely top-notch. Even the legendary Sunil Gavaskar, during his commentary stints, couldn't help but admire the approach and tactical nous of skipper Smith. In the first over of the game, Australia got Rohit Sharma out twice (one caught behind, and one lbw) but they didn't bother to review. Most visiting captains, especially after the 0-2 trail, would have panicked and wilted under pressure after such shocking start. But, not Steve Smith. He kept his calm and trusted his spinners to do the job. Rotated them smartly and ensured there isn't too much burden on one particular bowler. And when he walked out to bat, Smith took it upon himself to get the scoreboard racing with a flurry of boundaries before being dismissed for 26. In the final session on day 2, Shreyas Iyer threatened to take the game away by belting 32 runs off the first four overs, but Smith held his nerve and introduced pace to change the complexion of the game. Starc repaid the skipper's faith by removing Iyer second ball and when Pujara started to dig deep and build a lead, Smith took a blinder at leg slip and sealed his and Australia's stamp of authority on this game.

Where did it go wrong for India? Losing 7 wickets in the 1st session of the game after opting to bat never helps. India looked comfortable against pace and raced off to 26/0 in 5 overs, but the introduction of spin had them wobbling as Kuhnemann picked up his maiden fifer while restricting the hosts to a meagre 109. With the batting scars still playing on their minds, the Indian spinners struggled to hit consistent lengths in the second half of the opening day. Having an open field didn't help either as Uzzie and Marnus rotated strike comfortably. They did find their mojo back on the second day by picking the last six Australian wickets for 11 runs, but the damage was already done by then. Usman Khawaja, with his low hands approach and intermittent sweeps, set the template for the rest of the batters and played a pivotal role in Australia securing a significant 88-run lead. India tried to get their act together in their second essay, but Australia trusted their discipline and kept posing question marks with their impeccable lines and length. Pujara stood out in an otherwise sorry-looking scorecard and it needed a miracle to stop Australia from chasing the scanty 76. Not to be.

Travis Head: Taking one step at a time. As cliched as it may sound, one ball at a time. Nice to contribute. Not everything goes your way. Just wanted to make sure when the chance comes I was ready enough to take it. Thinking was to execute as well as we can. Did a fantastic job to come back from the first two Tests. We knew there was going to be good balls, as well as opportunities to score runs. Once we got in, it was trying to make the most of the opportunity. Difficult when you're facing one of the best bowlers in the world. There was no messaging coming out (during the ball change). The bounce in Australia is what he's key at (Lyon). There was some pressure after the first Test, with some people criticising different things. But he does what he does. He's got the most wickets in the subcontinent for Australia for a reason. He's an unbelievable bowler, and long may it continue.

This is the first defeat for India in a home Test where they have batted first since losing to England in Kolkata in 2012/13.
India losing a home Test inside three days
vs Aus Indore 2022/23
vs Aus Pune 2016/17
vs SA Ahmedabad 2007/08
vs Aus Mumbai WS 2000/01
vs SA Mumbai WS 1999/00
vs Eng Kanpur 1951/52
Shortest home Tests that ended in a defeat for India
1135 balls Aus vs Ind Indore 2022/23 *
1459 balls Eng vs Ind Kanpur 1951/52
1474 balls WI vs Ind Kolkata 1983/84
1476 balls Aus vs Ind Mumbai WS 2000/01

10:49 Local Time, 05:19 GMT: The day started with Australia needing 76 runs and India 10 wickets. Ashwin gave some hope when he removed the in-form Khawaja off the second ball of the day, but that was the only joy for India. Head and Labuschagne buckled down and were ready to take their time. There was not a single aggressive shot played for the first 10 overs and then a couple of things happened, the ball was changed and at the same time there was a message from the Australian dressing room, that got the pair going especially Head and there were a flurry of boundaries which broke India's fight. This Test started with India needing a win to qualify for the WTC final but it is Australia who seal their spot in the WTC final.

Ashwin to Labuschagne, FOUR, Australia win by 9 wickets. Labuschagne lets out a loud "yeah" once he clears mid-wicket. This has been a tremendous turn around and one which keeps the series alive. Flighted on off and middle, Labuschagne comes down the track and lofts it with the spin over mid-wicket

Ashwin to Labuschagne, no run, very full delivery on leg-stump, Labuschagne digs it out to mid-wicket

Ashwin to Labuschagne, no run, Labuschagne wanted to finish it in style. He comes down the track and looks to go over mid-wicket, but the ball spins in and goes past the inside edge, striking him on the back leg

Ashwin to Head, 1 run, tossed up on off, Head closes the bat face and the leading edge rolls to point

Ashwin to Head, FOUR, smashed! Head comes down the track, gets to the pitch of the ball and hammers it to the left of Ashwin. No half measures there

Umesh Yadav to Labuschagne, FOUR, short and angled in, Labuschagne swivels and pulls it backward of square leg. He was in complete control of the shot. Australia need just 7 runs

Umesh Yadav to Labuschagne, no run, full and hint of reverse, Labuschagne watches it closely and eases it to mid-off

Umesh Yadav to Labuschagne, no run, too straight - on off and middle, Labuschagne tucks it to mid-wicket

Umesh Yadav to Labuschagne, no run, fuller and around off, Labuschagne respects it with a solid forward block

Umesh Yadav to Head, 1 run, strays onto the hips, Head clips it down to fine leg

Umesh Yadav to Head, no run, fraction short and angled across, Head pulls and picks out mid-wicket. He shakes his head in disappointment