Memories of the last Test that was played here against Australia in 2010, when India won by one wicket, came flooding back. On that occasion, VVS Laxman was at the crease till the end — along with Pragyan Ojha — to fashion India's one-wicket win. This time, though, Laxman was in the commentary box and Ojha was praying that his turn wouldn't come.
With the chase getting tight, skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni didn't look his assured self and played and missed a lot to Mitchell Starc and Peter Siddle. Shikhar Dhawan's hand injury meant he couldn't bat. All this added to the climax as Ravindra Jadeja walked in to bat. As he has done with the ball throughout the series, Jadeja relieved his captain this time with the bat, hitting two boundaries of three balls off Siddle and tilting the balance in India's favour.
The bold attack by Jadeja gave confidence to Dhoni, who himself hit three consecutive boundaries as India regained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with a Test to play. Like in Chennai and Hyderabad, the victory came on the back of a tailormade pitch, some superb spin-bowling and a brilliant batting performance by the top-order, led by debutant Shikhar Dhawan. Then there was Bhuvneshwar Kumar's crucial three-wicket burst in the final session of the fourth day.
Australia will take heart from the way they fought in India's second essay, not giving an inch to the hosts' chase of 133 runs. With Dhawan not able to bat, Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli and Tendulkar came up with handy contributions in India's second essay.
Earlier, it seemed that India would romp home with plenty of time left to spare when the visitors slid to 179/9 in their second innings. But No. 10 and 11 - Mitchell Starc and Xavier Doherty - saved Australia the blushes as the duo put on 44 runs for the last wicket and most importantly stuck around for 18.1 overs, raising hopes of a draw.
Before that, India's spinners - Ashwin, Ojha and Jadeja - made short-work of the Aussie middle-order in the morning session. Nightwatchman Nathan Lyon got a big turning one from Ojha and could only edge it behind. Jadeja got his 'bunny' Michael Clarke for the fifth time in the series, caught at short leg, though it was evident that the Australian skipper was struggling with his back.
Overnight batsman Phil Hughes (69) followed his captain back to the pavilion, leg-before to Ashwin, although replays showed that it was an error in judgment on the part of umpire Aleem Dar. Moises Henriques and Peter Siddle didn't last long and it was left to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin, along with Starc and Doherty, to show some fight.
The trio did its best but India were already on course.
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