IND vs AUS: 3rd Test, Day 3 – Australia wrap up a memorable Test win

Australia completed a memorable victory after defeating India in the third Test match in Indore. The home side succumbed to their first defeat against Australia on home soil since 2017. Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head starred for the tourists during a routine chase on the third day.

Needing just 76 runs to win the third Test with three days remaining in the match, Australia were outright favourites to claw their way back into the series. However, the Indore pitch ensured that it was not as straightforward a chase as the visitors would have liked as they lost opener Usman Khawaja on the very second delivery of the day.

The Indian spin twins, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja were relentless in the first hour, pinning the Australian batters on the backfoot. However, the Australian batters put their foot on the accelerator once they got their eye in, propelling Australia to a comfortable nine-wicket victory.

Here are some of the talking points from the game:

Not enough runs in the bag

Despite the early wicket of Usman Khawaja, Australia were the favorite to win the match as they needed just 76 runs. R Ashwin was impeccable with his bowling in the first half an hour but a change of ball after the ten-over mark brought about their downfall as Australia took the attack to the Indian spinners.

Labuschagne and Head to the rescue

After losing Usman Khawaja for a two-ball duck in the very first over of the day, Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head steadied the ship for the visitors with a terrific stand for the second wicket. Head started playing his shorts after the change of the ball, and Labuschagne joined the party too, as a flurry of boundaries deflated the Indian bowlers.

No Pat Cummins, no problem

Australia’s regular Test skipper Pat Cummins stayed back home to nurse his ailing mother, leaving the captaincy duties with his deputy Steve Smith. The Australian batting ace was spot-on with his tactics from the first day and his proactive captaincy was the reason the visitors gained the advantage in a hard-fought Test match. Not to mention his spectacular catch to dismiss Cheteshwar Pujara on the second day, which turned out to be a decisive moment in the match.

What next?

With India leading 2-1, the two teams meet for the final fixture of the series at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium from March 9.