India left singing in the rain
Wet weather has helped Australia escape with a draw at a sodden SCG, where India have made history by completing a 2-1 series victory.
Play was eventually abandoned, without a ball being bowled, at 2.30pm (local time) on day five of the fourth test.
The final inspection proved a low-key end to India’s maiden test series win in Australia, arguably the greatest achievement of Virat Kohli’s captaincy.
It was the third consecutive day in Sydney that was affected by either bad light or rain but that didn’t stop a group of India’s fans cheering, dancing, waving flags and singing in the rain.
Kohli and team-mates celebrated by thanking supporters who had stuck around despite the showers.
Australia, asked to follow on after conceding a first innings lead of 322 runs on day four, finished 6-0 in their second innings.
India, having failed to win a test series in Australia in 11 previous attempts, ended a slump that dates back to when they were crushed by Don Bradman’s side in 1948.
India, led by magnificent series from batting rock Cheteshwar Pujara and superb slinger Jasprit Bumrah, achieved it in clinical fashion to expose the immense void left by Steve Smith and David Warner’s suspensions and raise questions about the potency of Australia’s attack.
Kohli’s team banked wins in Adelaide and Melbourne to take an unassailable 2-1 series lead and retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, while they took control of the final test by amassing 622-7.
‘‘We’ve been outplayed in some areas,’’ Australia captain Tim Paine conceded prior to the start of play yesterday. ‘‘It’s been a hard-fought series and they deserve to take home the trophy.
‘‘We’ve got to try and look at the positives.’’ –