AHMEDABAD, India, (Reuters) – India maintained their vice-like grip on the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with a 2-1 series victory against Australia after the fourth and final test ended in a stalemate yesterday.
The icing on the cake was a place in the final of the World Test Championship (WTC) against Australia in June albeit with a little favour from New Zealand earlier in the day.
Kane Williamson helped New Zealand pull off a last-ball thriller in Christchurch, dashing Sri Lanka’s hopes of making the WTC final with a 2-0 series sweep against Tim Southee’s men.
It was India’s 16th consecutive test series victory on home soil and they have held the Border-Gavaskar Trophy since 2016-17.
India had put themselves in an unbeatable position with a first-innings lead of 91 but their chances of a third victory in the series hinged on an Australia collapse.
But the pitch at Narendra Modi Stadium, where only 21 wickets fell in five days, did not deteriorate as much as their spinners would have liked.
Travis Head smashed 90 and forged a 139-run stand with Marnus Labuschagne, who made 63 not out, to steer Australia to safety before the teams agreed on a draw.
“It was a really hard fought series,” India coach Rahul Dravid said.
“Australia is a very good team. They’ve come here well prepared, they are the number one side in the world.
“To be able to compete with them, to be able to get the better of them, even though it was in our conditions… I couldn’t be prouder.”
With a draw looming in Ahmedabad, Dravid said they were following the match in Christchurch.
“Nice also to make the World Test Championship final.
“It’s not easy. Over two years, you got to produce results home and away.”
