Despite some commendable resistance from the tail, Australia's Test side has crumbled to a humiliating defeat at the MCG.
India has won the Boxing Day Test by eight wickets, and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy stands at 1-1 with two matches to play.
The Australians were utterly outclassed at the MCG this week, with no batsman able to muster a half-century over the four-day contest.
It's the first time no Australian has scored a half-century in a home Test match since 1988.
Wicket slowly tumbled in the morning session on Tuesday, with India's bowlers eventually cleaning up the tail just before the lunch break.
Young gun Cameron Green provided some resistance, but was dismissed just short of a maiden Test half-century, caught at mid-wicket for 45.
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India was tasked with chasing 70 runs for victory, and things would have felt quite tense in the changerooms after losing two cheap wickets.
But the visitors reached the target in less than 16 overs, with debutant Shubman Gill scoring 35 not out and skipper Ajinkya Rahane finishing on 27 not out.
Rahane was named Player of the Match for his classy century in the first innings.
"I'm really proud of all the players," Rahane told Fox Cricket after the victory.
"Character and attitude was really important coming into this Test match. The way everyone played was absolutely magnificent."
Ten days after being dismissed for 36 in Adelaide, India win the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne by 8 wickets to level the series 1-1. It's the least they deserved after taking the honours on six of the seven days played. #AUSvIND
— Andrew Wu (@wutube) December 29, 2020
Terrific Indian win away from home. Yes Aus have been shocking with the bat but India haven't allowed them to get away with it. This time. #AusvInd
— Rahul Puri (@rahulpuri) December 29, 2020
Huge win for India. So impressed by the bounce back from Adelaide. The debutants Gill & Siraj. Rahane up a gear with the bat, and as a leader. ðŸ‘ðŸ½ðŸ‘ðŸ½
— Trent Copeland (@copes9) December 29, 2020
1-1, we’re in for one hell of a series! @7Cricket #AUSvIND
Former Australian Test captain Ricky Ponting said on Channel 7: "They've been brilliant. You can see what it means to them as well. Would have done a lot of soul searching over the last week leading into this Test match."
Australian captain Tim Paine spoke honestly about his side's underwhelming performance in Melbourne.
"We're very disappointed," Paine conceded. "We played pretty poor cricket, pretty sloppy cricket for majority of the Test match.
"Taking nothing away from India - they put up under pressure and forced us into making a number of mistakes.
"But there's still two (Tests) to go, so we'll work hard and try and rectify it for the next match."
The third Test will commence on Thursday, January 7th.
Australia's dropped catch tally has risen to seven, with Mitchell Starc splling a chance in the outfield.
After Indian skipper Ajinkya Rahane was deceived through the air by Nathan Lyon, he clipped a shot towards Starc at long on.
But the towering quick was unable to hold onto the chance, diving low to his right.
India now require just 10 runs to win the Test match.
So you're saying there's a chance…
Pat Cummins has struck, removing the dangerous Cheteshwar Pujara for three.
Pujara was tempted by a full delivery, tentatively pushing away from his body outside of off stump.
The outside edge flew to Cameron Green at gully, who cleanly held onto the catch.
Cummins has now dismissed Pujara in three consecutive innings this series.
"No need to play that shot," Indian great Sunil Gavaskar said on Channel 7. "Australia will now sniff a chance, sniff an opportunity."
Cummins dismisses Pujara before he even gets a chance to set up camp 😲 #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/oqqrhru9aM
— News Cricket (@NewsCorpCricket) December 29, 2020
India are now two down, still trailing by 51 runs.
Skipper Ajinkya Rahane is the new batsman at the crease, coming off a sublime century in the first innings.
Mitchell Starc has snared the first breakthrough for Australia, removing opening batsman Mayank Agarwal for five.
Agarwal lazily pushed at a full delivery from Starc, and only managed to edge the ball through to the wicketkeeper.
India are now 1/16, with Cheteshwar Pujara walking onto the MCG.
That's 1000 career Test wickets for Australia's attack.
— Samuel Ferris (@samuelfez) December 29, 2020
394 – Lyon
252 – Starc
202 – Hazlewood
152 – Cummins#AUSvIND
India's run chase has started well, with opening batsmen Mayank Agarwal and Shubman Gill scoring nine runs from the first two overs.
Every run evokes a wild roar from Indian fans at the MCG.
Seventy is not the most intimidating target, but we all remember what transpired at Adelaide Oval last week…
You'd think India are the home team from the crowd noise in here on day four. Smelling blood. #AUSvIND
— Shayne Hope 📰 (@shayne_hope) December 29, 2020
India requires 70 runs to win the Boxing Day Test match.
The Australians were bowled out for 200 on Tuesday afternoon, with Josh Hazlewood the last to depart after leaving a delivery from spin bowler Ravi Ashwin.
This is the first home Test match since 1988 where no Australian batsman has managed to score a half-century.
There two types of leaves etc… #AUSvIND
— Andrew McCormack (@_AMcCormack7) December 29, 2020
Luckily for Ashwin the ball hit the top of the stump, DRS would have given it not out on umpire's call #DRS #AUSvIND
— Sanjjeev (@Sanjjeev) December 29, 2020
Lunch has been called, and play will resume at approximately 1:40pm AEDT.
The DRS has been a source of fierce debate throughout this Test match, and the technology has once again come under fire.
Indian spin bowler Ravi Ashwin pinned Australia's Mitchell Starc in front with one that turned the other way and appealed for LBW.
"It's a beautiful piece of bowling," Australian great Ricky Ponting said on Channel 7. "A very well disguised delivery.
Skipper Ajinkya Rahane called for the DRS after the on-field umpire decided it was not out.
In a cruel twist of fate, Hawkeye showed the ball would have struck middle and leg stump, but remained Umpire's Call due to the height.
Starc survived once again, but cricket pundits were not impressed.
"I hate this umpire's call," former Australian bowler Brett Lee said on Fox Cricket.
"I'm sorry, that is out … look at where it's hitting, smashing into middle and leg."
Umpire's call – Ashwin's carrom ball goes unrewarded and Starc survives #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/zVyMinAbog
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 29, 2020
The really frustrating thing is that the line for the bails is actually under the bails. That is ridiculous. It's like two sets of rules within one game. #AUSvIND
— Melinda Farrell (@melindafarrell) December 29, 2020
Australia is now 9/200 with a lead of 69.
Indian debutant Mohammad Siraj continues his impressive performance at the MCG by removing Nathan Lyon for three.
Lyon attempted a pull shot off Siraj, but only managed to glove the ball through to the wicketkeeper.
Australia is now 9/190, with Josh Hazlewood joining teammate Mitchell Starc at the crease.
No review required this time – Nathan Lyon nicks it to the keeper and walks – one wicket remains for Australia. #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/pi9wyMjxxO
— News Cricket (@NewsCorpCricket) December 29, 2020
Mohammed Siraj has been outstanding in this Test. None of his spells have dipped in intensity.#AUSvIND
— Andrew McGlashan (@andymcg_cricket) December 29, 2020
Mitchell Starc has survived a nailbiting DRS after he was initially given out by the on-field umpire.
Ravindra Jadeja thought he had the breakthrough when Starc played around a full delivery which struck him on the pad, and was then caught at first slip.
But Starc immediately called for the review after he was given out by the on-field umpire.
Although there was some conjecture about whether Starc had edged the ball, replays showed he had struck his shoe instead.
Hawkeye suggested the ball was missing leg stump, and Starc's innings continued.
Mitch Starc survives one of the stranger reviews!
— News Cricket (@NewsCorpCricket) December 29, 2020
Given out caught, reviewed, no bat involved, not out LBW. #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/COeOf41Bgj
Cameron Green has fallen short of a maiden Test half-century at the MCG.
The 21-year-old survived 145 deliveries at the crease before losing his patience and attacking a short ball from Indian paceman Mohammed Siraj .
Green's mistimed pull shot flew directly to Ravindra Jadeja at mid wicket, who claimed a smart catch above his head.
The Aussie prodigy makes his way back to the pavilion for 45, and Nathan Lyon is the new man at the crease.
Cameron Green's great stand is over 😱 #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/C8BA51JV15
— News Cricket (@NewsCorpCricket) December 29, 2020
It was a valiant resistance, but Pat Cummins has made his way back to the pavilion for 22.
Indian paceman Jasprit Bumrah fired down a bouncer, which struck Cummins on the gloves.
It flew towards the slip cordon and was comfortably taken by Mayank Agarwal.
Australia is now seven down, and Mitchell Starc is the new batsman at the crease.
A brute of a ball #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/xdnOOYOLOO
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 29, 2020
Ripping delivery from Bumrah – it's one of the great mysteries how's it's only his second wicket of the innings so far! I suspect he will add to that very quickly now #AUSvIND #AUSvsINDonSONY
— Bernie Coen (@berniecoen) December 29, 2020
The national selection chief was in Sydney to watch a rising star carve out a maiden century as Victorian Test hopeful also opened the Sheffield Shield season in style.
A cricketer who has been banned from playing cricket in England and Wales for 10 years will be allowed to play in Western Australia.
Australia hasn’t lost a T20 to New Zealand for more than three years, but something is happening to the Kiwis at the World Cup.