India has done the impossible to knock over Fortress Gabba in one of the greatest series wins in modern cricket history.
In a thrilling final session, India started looking for quick runs in the dramatic final hour of play with Rishabh Pant picking apart every member of the Aussie attack – other than weapon Pat Cummins.
Pant’s electric 89 not out and Shubman Gill’s earlier 91 got India over the line in the greatest run chase ever seen at the Gabba – a result that ends Australia’s 32 year undefeated stretch in Brisbane.
There were plenty of nervous moments for the Indians at the death, however, with Pant given the task of needing 53 runs from the final 10 overs – and with five wickets in hand.
He made it look easy.
Pant guided India past the required total of 328 with three overs to spare – giving India a truly historic three wicket win.
Even more astounding is the victory gives India two consecutive victories on Australian soil and sees them retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in one of the bravest tours to grace Australia.
Indian legend Sunil Gavaskar explained what the win meant to India in commentary on Channel 7, describing it as “India's most famous series victory ever”.
“Despite the win two years ago, in their heart of hearts they would have known without David Warner and Steve Smith it would have been just that little bit easy," he said.
"Now that David Warner and Smith are there, this is the one."
Aussie legend Ricky Ponting also described what the loss means for Australia.
“You can't speak highly enough of India, it is as simple as that,” he said.
“I said yesterday on air it looked like this game might be a draw and even if it was a draw, that would be a worse result for Australia than when they lost two years ago. We all sat back and said India got us when we were at our weakest without David Warner and Smith there.
"But guess what, David Warner and Smith have been there, our entire bowling brigade has been there, and India have been the exact opposite. So if Australia go on to lose this game, it will hurt, it will dig really deep."
There was high drama early which saw Cheteshwar Pujara escape an LBW appeal, despite the ball clearly going on to smash into the stumps.
It continued in the second session with a brutal spell of bowling from Cummins and Josh Hazelwood leaving the tourists battered and bruised. Despite the punishment, India's batsmen showed courage under fire to move to 3-183 at the tea break.
Pat Cummins continued to be Australia's only threat when he took up the new ball to dismiss Cheteshwar Pujara and Mayank Agarwal- but India continued to creep towards a miracle fourth innings chase at 5-265. In the final over India lost their seventh wicket, still needing three runs to win.
The winning runs were hit by Pant, triggering wild celebrations from the Indian team.
Wow. WOW.
For the first time in more than three decades, Australia are beaten at the Gabba.
The fourth innings chase smashed the previous highest fourth innings chase record at the Gabba- 236 runs set in 1951 - by almost 100 runs.
Aussie legend Shane Warne also said the victory for India would is one of the greatest Test wins in Indian cricket history after fighting back from a 1-0 series deficit and losing half of their first-string stars, including Kohli.
"That’s as good a test match win as I can remember. I can’t remember a better test match win in recent times," he told Fox Cricket.
"There’ll be plenty of questions and plenty of fall out for the Australians, but let’s just take a moment to appreciate India."
While Australia captured four wickets in the final session of the series, they were made to pay the price for losing their way earlier on Day 5 with Pat Cummins and Josh Hazelwood the only bowlers looking dangerous.
Cummins was a machine throughout the series and his figures of 4-55 were enough for him to hold onto the high honours of being named player of the series. His heroics couldn't cover up the cracks of the slumping Aussie attack that included Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Starc both lacking punch and direction with the ball in hand.
The wilting Aussie attack is just one of many areas of concern that will give Australian selectors sleepless nights in the build up to the Tour of South Africa coming up.
Aussie captain Tim Paine looked a tired, defeated captain when he summed up the series at the end of the match by simply saying India was the better team this series.
Here is how the drama unfolded earlier.
Updates
Late wickets another layer of intrigue
The plot of India's thrilling fourth innings chase thickened again when Nathan Lyon bowled Washington Sundar.
The dismissal hit off a crack and bowled Sundar through his gate after it darted back into his body.
It set up an epic finish with India 6-318, needing 10 runs to win from 25 balls.
The equation became 7-325 with India needing just three runs to win when Josh Hazelwood removed Shardul Thakur.
Earlier, Pat Cummins exposed India's tail with his fourth wicket of the innings to leave India nervous at 5-265. Cummins removed Mayank Agarwal for nine when he enticed the batsman into a lofted cover drive that went straight to the fielder at short cover. It took Cummins' figures to 4-38.
Cummins strikes with second new ball
Indian wall Cheteshwar Pujara's marathon, brave innings finally came to an end when Pat Cummins trapped him front with the second delivery since the new ball was taken.
Cummins' third wicket kept Australia alive with Pujara sent to the dressing room after a memorable knock of 56 from 211 balls.
The dismissal sets up a dramatic final hour of play with India caught in two minds about chasing the win or defending for a draw.
In a test where Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon have struggled, Cummins is again leading the attack with 3-26 from 18 overs.
It took Cummins only two balls to strike with the newy!
Cheteshwar Pujara was dropped twice, struck in the helmet three times and appeared to suffer a serious hand injury during a short ball barrage led by Aussie quick Josh Hazelwood.
Hazelwood's biggest blow dropped Pujara with a darting short ball that struck the batsman on the gloves.
Pujara, who had been left bruised and tenderised by a short ball barrage, immediately shook his hand and jumped up after the contact and went to ground as a result of the pain.
He was assessed by a team doctor out on the pitch, forcing umpires to take an early drinks break.
Replays showed the delivery struck Pujara on the knuckle of his right hand.
He returned to face the music again at the resumption of play.
"Oh, that's nasty," Aussie legend Adam Gilchrist told Fox Cricket.
"That's really hurt him."
Fox Cricket showed a highlights reel showing Pujara hit more than 10 times.
In Hazelwood's next over, he again floored Pujara with a short ball that crashed into Pujara's helmet and broke the neck guard at the back of his helmet, which detached and almost fell onto the batsman's stumps.
Aussie commentators were left in awe of Pujara's courage, valuing his wicket more than his own body.
Warne fumes in epic rant
Aussie test legend Shane Warne has gone on a stunning rant about Australia’s tactics on the final day as they chase 10 wickets to wrestle back the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. With Australia struggling to break the second wicket partnership of Cheteshwar Pujara and Shubman Gill, Warne was getting angrier by the second as Australia stuck with defensive tactics during Nathan Lyon’s second spell of the day. Warne continued to get hot under the collar as the session progressed, also taking issue with Australia’s failure to change up its tactics and throw down a short ball barrage. He was most upset with the field Australia set for Lyon bowling to Pujara — a player who has previously been Lyon’s bunny in recent series. A tactical decision not to put a bat pad in place on the off-side was the final straw for Warne. “Once again this pretty average field that Nathan Lyon has is just leaking easy singles,” Warne told Fox Cricket.
“I’m just staggered that with Pujara especially there is no bat pad on the off side. I can’t believe it. I just cannot believe it. Especially after everything in the last series and in this series and how he’s bowled to Pujara. I don’t know what conversations they’ve had, but with no bat pad to start with. I’m in shock. I’ve been disappointed with some of the tactics this series from the Australians, but this one, it just doesn’t make any sense. “I don’t have an answer, I just cannot explain it. Why on earth would you not have one?” Warne said the blame for the fielding blunder fell on the shoulders of Lyon, rather than captain Tim Paine.
Aussies 'furious' over DRS drama
Australian players were left up in arms when a clear dismissal from Nathan Lyon was sensationally denied by a DRS complication.
Lyon appeared to have Cheteshwar Pujara trapped in front when the batsman failed to offer a shot in Lyon's first over.
The umpires turned down the appeal before Lyon and Tim Paine immediately called for a review.
The DRS replays showed the majority of the ball was going on to hit the top of Pujara's leg stump – but the decision was returned from the third umpire as umpire's call.
Aussie Test great Greg Blewett said Lyon was "furious" after the decision was delivered on the big screen.
"He's furious, Nathan Lyon. Furious," he told Channel 7.
"That's a big moment. And that has irked the Australians."
Mark Waugh told Fox Cricket: "It was awfully close, there was nearly enough there for the decision to be overturned. That is about 1cm from being out."
Cummins' opening spell drew high praise from veteran Indian cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle who described Cummins as the best bowler in the world right now.
Cummins finished his first spell of the day with figures of 1-4 from six overs.
Cummins, Hazlewood offered first chance
Mitchell Starc was seen stretching his hamstring before play but insisted he was ready to go.
But he watched on when play began at 10.30am (AEDT) as Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins were handed the first chance at grabbing an early wicket.
Brisbane weather could leave skipper washed up
"It's now set up that a big piece of Tim Paine's legacy resides in today's result. There's now a lot for him in this."
That was the word from SEN's Gerard Whateley this morning as Australia seeks to avoid what would be a humbling series draw – or defeat – against an understrength India side.
Paine has as much riding on the result as anyone after tainting his almost perfect run as skipper by failing to get a result on day five at the SCG.
He'll attempt to avoid a repeat today but has less overs to work with and the threat of rain limiting the amount of time in the day.
The early weather report from Brisbane is somewhat promising. Play is expected to start on time but there is a 70 per cent chance of some showers today, so it will depend on how long they last.
Tim Paine will be praying to the weather gods. Picture: Getty
The other variable is India's interest in pushing for a win when it resumes at 0/4 in pursuit of 328. On the surface there's little reason to risk getting bowled out by batting aggressively because a draw will see India retain the Border-Gavaskar trophy.
But a draw would see the visitors remain in third place in the World Test Championship standings behind Australia and New Zealand. A win would see them leap to top spot.
There's also the satisfaction they'd gain from becoming the first visiting team to win at the Gabba since 1988.
