AUS VS IND - 4th Test, India tour of Australia, 2018-19

And so it's done! India's first-ever Test series win in Australia. There's been heavy scrutiny of this team recently, and some of it might be their own doing in the way of team selections and some of the statements thrown around. But the fact remains, they're the only Indian team to have done it ever (let alone the last 15-20 years). No one can take that away from them. Sunil Gavaskar, on air, said he had tears in his eyes watching the team celebrate. Ravi Shastri, in the press conference, calls it as big, or even bigger, than the World Cup win in 1983. A great, great day for Indian cricket. That's all from our coverage. It's a goodbye from Sagar Chawla on behalf of Pradeep Krishnamurthy, Abhinand Raghavendran, Nikhil Jadhav and Shashikant Singh.

Phew, what a series. Any series that propels Cheteshwar Pujara to the rightful status of a batting superstar is a series worth cherishing. With 521 runs from 1258 balls, he basically broke Australia's bowling attack into the ground. He blocked everything. Everything. Australia just couldn't figure out a plan to get him out. They only had leather balls after all. Maybe they could've tried energy beams and water cannons. He might've blocked them too.

Stats round-up courtesy Deepu Narayanan

Series wins in 'SENA' countries for India:
3-1 in NZ, 1967/68
1-0 in Eng, 1971
2-0 in Eng, 1986
1-0 in Eng, 2007
1-0 in NZ, 2008/09
2-1 in Aus, 2018/19

Series wins away from home for Virat Kohli:
2-1 in Sri Lanka, 2015
2-0 in West Indies, 2016
3-0 in Sri Lanka, 2017
2-1 in Australia, 2018/19

Visiting sides winning series in Australia:
England (13 times)
WI (1979/80, 1984/85, 1988/89 & 1992/93)
NZ (1985/86)
SA (2008/09, 2012/13, 2016/17)
India (2018/19)

Virat Kohli kisses the Border-Gavaskar Trophy which is handed to him by the great Allan Border himself. He's soon joined by his teammates. Kohli relegates himself to the periphery for the photograph, handing the trophy to Mayank Agarwal in the centre. There's this great vibe in the team, just soaking in the atmosphere and the celebrations. Some of the players have got their families onto the field to share this with them. It's all very lovely.

Kohli (2/2): We knew once the batsmen score, our bowlers are lethal. The way the bowlers have dictated terms in this series. And not just this one, the previous two tours as well. I've not seen happen in Indian cricket. Playing with four bowlers and getting results overseas is something that I've never seen playing for India. Hats off to them. They've worked on their fitness levels. They don't look at a pitch and think there's nothing for us. It's a revelation for Indian cricket and a learning for the other bowlers back home. These guys are going to be looked up to for a long, long time. They definitely deserve to be here and breaking record of the great West Indian fast bowlers is no mean feat. Definitely, this is just the stepping stone for us. The average age in the team is quite low. The most important thing for us has been belief. We've believed in SA that we're on the right track, we believed in England, and now we've got the results to back it. Most important thing is what you feel as a group, not what the voices outside say about you. If your intention is right, God gives you things you can't imagine. Our intent has always been good, and that is to take Indian cricket forward. Australia are always going to be a very competitive side. Every team goes through transition. I wish Tim and the management all the very best. I'm sure they're going to regroup and come back to the dominating force they are. We all deserve to enjoy. Celebrations are going to run long into the night I can assure you. Guys are tired, they're mentally and physically drained. Now we've got no more Test cricket and no more alarms in the morning. Crowds have been outstanding. They've never let us feel we are playing away from home. They've come in numbers in every stadium.

Virat Kohli, India captain (1/2): Firstly I want to say, I've never been more proud of a team than this one. The culture we've been able to build over the last 12 months. Our transition started here when I became the captain for the first time. Only one word to say, I'm proud. To lead these players is an honour and a privilege. They make the captain look good. Definitely deserve to enjoy this moment. By far this is my best achievement. Has to be on top of the pile. When we won the World Cup, I was the youngest member of the side. I saw the others getting emotional but I didn't really feel what they felt. But having been to this country thrice now and to understand that what we've done has never been done. This series will give us a different identity as a team. What we've been able to achieve is something to be really proud of. That's something that we spoke about, just wanted to go back to basics, not be flamboyant. Want to give a special mention to Pujara. Especially after the kind of series he had the last time he came here. He's one guy always willing to accept things. Takes it in his stride and works on his game. He's the nicest man around. Special mention to Mayank Agarwal too. To come in on Boxing Day and play like that against a high quality attack in their conditions speaks volumes of the belief he has. Someone like Rishabh as well, coming into his own and dominating attacks is something that augurs well for the team.

Tim Paine, Australia captain: Tip our hats to India. We know personally going to India and playing in foreign conditions, how difficult it is. Congratulations to Virat and Ravi. Huge effort to come and win a series overseas. In the last two Tests, no doubt. Had our chances to win in Adelaide. India outplayed us in big moments in that Test. In Perth we did well. But we were outplayed in these last two Tests. So they deserve to win the series. There's always positives. I know there's been a lot of gloom and doom of late. Got some talent in this team. Obviously got some talent who aren't playing. They were playing against potentially the best pace attack in the world. Hopefully, they'll learn. Message is to keep scoring runs. That's the currency in cricket. We've got guys outside the group that are putting pressure as well, so that's a good thing. Our group is under no illusions. Cricket is a funny game. We know it can turn very quickly. I'm fine, thanks (mentally drained?). Will go home for a couple of days now. And some of us will head to the Big Bash. And then we'll have an eye on the preparation for Sri Lanka which is a big series for us next.

Cheteshwar Pujara, Player of the Match and Player of the Series: It's a great feeling for all of us. We've been working really hard to win a series overseas. And especially doing it in this country, it's never easy. First hundred was special, scoring it in Adelaide and going 1-0 up is something which we were all aiming for. When you do that, there's a good chance of winning the series. So that hundred was special. As a batsman, you just need to get used to pace and bounce. Playing in different conditions, in South Africa, in England, in county cricket has helped me improve my technique. For me it's about the right preparation. Definitely the best squad I've been a part of. Congratulations to the bowlers. Have been playing with four bowlers and it's never been easy to bowl so many overs. Taking 20 wickets in never easy. I'll be playing some first-class cricket back home. During IPL, I might be playing county cricket. Next Test series is 6-7 months away. Will give me enough time to prepare. I'll work hard on my game to play white-ball cricket. But Test cricket is my priority, it'll always remain my priority.

Harsha Bhogle: If like me you have been coming to Australia since 1991 with no hope of winning a series, then this is a huge moment. India are now the first Asian team to win a series in Australia. And it feels wonderful to be able to say it. India has been the better team, has played aggressively and has won this on the back of patient batting and relentless pace bowling. I might have anticipated the first, but the second is a huge development

(2/2) With the series evenly poised, India opted to bat at the MCG with two new openers - one on debut and the other just 2-matches old in international cricket. The rookies saw off the new ball and that set the platform for the Pujara-Kohli marathon stand. The batsmen posted a mammoth score and that was followed by the series defining spell. Jasprit Bumrah made the Australian batsmen dance to his tunes in their own backyard with his fiery spell - 6/33 - and skittled out the hosts for 151. Post that, India had only two opponents in the Boxing Day contest - Pat Cummins & rain - and they weathered them to go 2-1 up. Having retained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the Indians were eyeing their maiden Test series victory in Australia. The duo of Pujara and Pant scored daddy hundreds and batted Australia out of the match and hence the series as well. India enforced the follow-on with more than four sessions left to force a 3-1 win, but the rain gods decided to inflict the lesser pain to the home team. Here's the final scoreline: India 2 - 1 Australia!

Series summary: (1/2) An anti-climactic end to a historic series win, where India were clearly the superior side. The top-ranked Test team outperformed the Australians in all facets of the game. Virat Kohli's men walked into the 4-match series as favourites, however India had an eerie sense of deja vu when they were reduced to 41 for 4 after opting to bat in the first session of the opening Test at the Adelaide Oval. A certain Cheteshwar Pujara bailed his side out of trouble and that was just the beginning. The Indian No. 3 went onto amass 521 runs - which included three hundreds - and unsurprisingly ended up as the leading run-getter of the series. The home team put up a brave front in the fourth innings chasing a target in excess of 300, but the visitors held their nerves to go 1-0 up for the first time in Australia. The Optus Perth Stadium, on debut, greeted the teams with a green track and convinced the Indians to play an extra seamer. It was Nathan Lyon, the spinner, who proved to be the difference between the two sides as his 8 wickets in the Test eclipsed Kohli's 25th ton and Australia levelled the series 1-1.

This was always on the cards. The Sydney Test has been officially abandoned and India win the 4-Test series 2-1. Virat Kohli becomes the first Indian as well as the first Asian captain to return victorious from Down Under. You can talk about the strength and depth of the hosts, who missed Steven Smith and David Warner, but one can't question the hard work and discipline shown by the Indians. There will be bigger challenges ahead, but for now, it's hard to look beyond India as the number one ranked ICC Test team, which is reflected in the rankings as well. We have live pictures and it's one happy dressing room with the likes, of Kohli, Rahane and Ishant beaming. Handshakes all around and with the Australian counterparts, who were led admirably by Tim Paine. It's then time for a little jig, started by Kuldeep and Kohli, and followed by the others. The team then take a lap of honour around the SCG, thanking the vast army of supporters who stood by the team.

Roshni Chasmawala says: My favorite moment of the match was the partnership between Rishabh Pant and Jadeja! It was incredible to watch such batting between them. I’m sure they left the Aussies speechless. The worst part was the “bad-light issue”. -- How can you forget Pujara's masterclass?

Stew: Too bad they cannot even bowl one over of spin in the rain even, just to end it on the field, someone suggest it to the teams! -- Not sure the Hessian will offer even bounce

Santosh: Well, safe to say it's going to remain 2-1. As a kid who was used to the Aussie domination back in the 90s and 2000s , never thought this day would come where we wlll beat them in their own backyard , truly a historic day.

Jay: I live 8 km away from Sydney. i assure you there will be no more play possible today. The steady rain will continue till late afternoon. Sunny days on forecast from tomorrow.

Prateek Aggarwal: Can't we have something like Duckworth Lewis in Test cricket too? Specifically in a situation like this where one team is trailing by more runs than it scored in its first innings. I still don't understand its calculation but it gives that satisfaction -- No, just no.

Harsha Bhogle: Such an anti-climax! The series will officially be won by India soon. But it would have been more fun achieving it on the ground.

2:10 pm Local Time, 08:40 am IST: The match officials will be talking to the ground-staff at 2:30 pm. Reckon, a decision over the fate of the game will be made, one way or the other

Parth: Well, never lose hope. There have been instances of more than 10 wickets falling in a single session. Just go back to last year's India-Afghanistan Test -- Not sure that's the best example, but yeah, anything could happen

Akash: Am i gonna miss Virat's Series Victory Roar??? -- That is the real tragedy here

Will: Realistically, how long do they wait to call it a day? 10 wickets in one session? Doubt it -- If there's a chance of play down the line - for a whole session - they'll probably wait. That's what I reckon at least.

As we wait for some on-field action, you can spend your Monday morning with interesting bits on the master blaster by the voice of cricket - Harsha Bhogle

1:10 pm Local Time, 07:40 am IST: Lunch has been done with, but the rain hasn't been done for the day. We are entering that stage when any chance of a result is all but over. India will have to be satisfied with a 2-1 series win and for Australia - the rebuilding job starts now. They have two Tests remaining in the summer, against Sri Lanka, and as Tim Paine has repeatedly said, they will need to learn from their mistakes in this series.

Harsha Bhogle: I think we are going to set a new record here. The maximum amount of time lost for the minimum amount of rain!

12:00 noon Local Time, 06:30 am IST: The first session has been washed out. Lunch will be taken at 12:30 with a view to start at 1:10 pm provided this irritating rain stops. Else, it could well be curtains down on the series

Shivraj Kumar (@shivrajk): "3-1 is what I was hoping for, 2-1 is what I will take."

Wiseman tweets: Australian rain is more reliable and long-lasting than their batsmen.