IND vs AUS

That will be all from the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, 2023, here at Sportskeeda! It was an absolute pleasure bringing the coverage to you. Right from the first session of the first Test in Nagpur, through to this final session on Day 5 in Ahmedabad, covering the exhilarating cricket between India and Australia for you, was a big thing for all of us. We thank you all for following us in these four Test matches and look forward to bringing much more Test cricket to you and keep entertaining you with all the action and insights every ball and between balls as well! This is the pair of Pradeep and Bidipto saying good bye for now. Just to reiterate, India and Australia will lock horns agains in the World Test Championship Final in three months' from 7 June, at The Oval in London. For more cricketing action taking place around the globe, keep following Sportskeeda! 

Rohit Sharma (India captain): (First thoughts) Really happy to win this series and retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. It was hard-fought series with lots of ebbs and flows, but we were able to come up trumps even with a couple of key players missing from out squad. So, really pleased with the performance! (On the players standing up at the right times) We have been able to come up answers to most questions at just the right time. I am proud of out performance in Delhi. We were behind in that match but came back really strong to surge ahead on a tricky wicket. We were then put to the test in Indore and could not quite stand up to the pressure applied on us. Well, Test cricket is never easy and we understand the demands of it. We try out best to meet the standards every single time. (On his own game and that century in the first Test) Personally, I am in a good frame of mind right now. I know what kind of benchmark I have set for myself. But, leaving all those personal milestones aside, this result makes me feel extremely happy. 

Both Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja have been adjudged Players of the Series! Here is their take on achieving this feat.

Ravichandran Ashwin: We were having a 'mic-cheers' just before coming out to talk here. But it's great to share this space with him and bowl so many overs in tandem. Jaddu keeps things extremely simple. Never fusses about anything at all. We've had a lot of chat about bowling in the last couple of years. Even in this series at various phases, when Travis Head and Usman Khawaja rolling along in the last two games, our converations helped understand things a lot better.

Ravindra Jadeja: It's wonderful to bowl with Ashwin. He knows a lot about the game, researches a lot and understands passages of play really well. So, having conversations with him only improves my game! I wasn't exactly happy with my batting, it can definitely get better going forward. 

Virat Kohli has been adjudged Player of the Match! Here is what he has to say.

Virat Kohli: (Whether there were pressures of expectations) To be honest, the expectation that I have for myself as a player is most important to me. I was getting a few good scores but not to the capabilities that I have and to which I have played in the past. But it does feel good to get this hundred and contribute in this manner for the team. (Reactions after scoring the century) It wasn't exactly relief that I had after scoring that hundred. I mean, I'm not in that phase of my career where I need to prove to anything to anyone but myself. As a professional, it is important to play well for the team. Otherwise, in sport, these things don't really fall in place. So I was satisfied with my own effort more than anything else. (The game-plan) With Shreyas Iyer not available to bat, I decided not to play any rash shot and just keep batting to keep the scoreboard ticking over. That mindset helped in carrying along in this game. 

Steve Smith (Australia captain): (When asked about the series) Did end slowly, pretty flat wicket at the back end. But a really enjoyable series, boys had a great time in India, the hospitality has been outstanding and the crowd has been amazing, well fought series and great time to be involved in. I think we started to play a lot better as the series went on. That hour of madness in Delhi really cost us the game but coming back from there, we fought back in Indore and this game as well. The wicket was a little flat in the end but was good cricket all around. (About Matthew Kuhnemann and Todd Murpthy) I think they bowled particularly well, both of them Kuhnemann and Murphy, played with composure and I'm sure they'll grow from strengths to strengths. (When asked about the next Border Gavaskar Trophy in 2027) Don't know about that, I'm getting a bit old for that but we'll see.

Rahul Dravid (India head coach): It was really a hard fought series, we were good under extreme pressure, we responded well. We found performances under pressure, when Rohit got his 100 and capped off by Virat's 186 and there were performances from Axar, Shubman Jadeja, Ashwin as well. The fight stood out in the whole series, whenever we had the back against the wall, we responded well, in Delhi too and here as well we responded well. People want to stand up, people want to take responsibility. Australia is a very good side, they are the number one side on the rankings, to be able to compete with them and do well talks about a lot. It's been a really exciting four or five months for Shubman, he's been in good form in T20 and now capping that off with a hundred in this test. A young player coming through is exciting, he's been along the group a last few years and he's maturing as a player, he's responded to the demand that has come up and he works hard on his skills, early days for him but he likes to learn from the best. We did, I'm just being honest, looking at that test and it was getting tight out there, we were keen, yes. Nice to make it to the WTC finals, there's lot of cricket, there's lot more test matches to put up performances, real credit to the team. Absolutely exception lead by Nathan Lyon, I thought he was brilliant the way he bowled and the control he's had was amazing. With the two young spinners, Murphy and Kuhnemann helped him well, they've been able to control the game from the other end. There's quality obviously in Murphy and Kuhnemann throughout. (When Murali Karthik asked about the ODI series coming up) Karthik, we just qualified to finals at lunch time, we want to celebrate this and don't want to think about the ODI games but we're looking forward to it. We will try and give best opportunity for the players, will think about it once we have time after the celebration.

Nathan Lyon: Its been tough challenge, coming up against India was always tough but has rewarding. Areas we can improve, always a great challenge over the years. Totally different surface, it's always up to the bowlers to create chances but yes, it was lot compacting. We're kind of knew we'll facing India, it's going to be exciting, we're going to do get the preparation going but we know how India are tough. I feel like I've been able to play a big role, hopefully we can make that work with the spin bowling, we're proud of what we've been able to achieve, I think they should be proud of it as well.

Shubman Gill: Always tough against Lyon, tests your patience, quite challenging and with Rohit bhai, we're trying to put him under pressure but I don't think he felt any of that. Lyon is always on his mark and always challenges you. With the pace he bowls, and the areas he lands as well and doesn't give much to the batters. No short balls or half-volleys on offers and it's quite difficult being a batter. It's quite easy to bat with Virat, the pressure is on the bowlers and the focus is on him and that kind of helps being at the non-striker's end. Completely different wicket, on this surface, if you're not bowling in the rough, there wasn't much and just wanted to create a bit of pressure with my shots.

Match Drawn. India retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, 2023, by winning the 4-match series 2-1.

Final session summary: 17 runs | 14.1 overs | 0 wicket | 1.20 RPO

Australia - 480 and 175/2 || India - 571

Usman Khawaja 180 (422) | Nathan Lyon - 3/151
Virat Kohli 186 (364) | Ravichandran Ashwin - 6/91 and 1/58

It was along expected lines that this match would end in a draw. After only 14 overs and 1 ball, that expectation turned into a straightforward reality. Both teams shook hands and found no point in continuing play for any more delivery with the possibility of a result pretty much extinguished.

There was talk about whether Marnus Labuschagne could get to his hundred and also if India would try and stop that from happening with tight bowling against him, but all that was put to bed too with both Steven Smith and him blocking a lot of deliveries that were there to be scored of.

There was an over of leg-spin from Cheteshwar Pujara that had neither a long-hop nor a full toss in it! Shubman Gill too bowled seven balls in Test cricket for the first time.

The pitch offered precious little to the bowlers after Tea. Apart from a couple of deliveries, there was hardly any turn or bounce or lack of bounce for that matter for the spinners to exploit.

But India will be thrilled at winning this coveted series and making it through to the Final of the World Test Championship! Both these teams will be in action to play that Test match at The Oval from 7 June. India have also beaten Australia four consecutive Test series. No other team has achieved this feat in more than 30 years! 

If India need a leg-spinner, Cheteshwar Pujara can put his hand up and bowl! Can't he? He neither bowled one halfway down the track nor bowled a full toss. Perhaps a case for India to try him out at the nets a bit more now! 

77.6 Cheteshwar Pujara to Steve Smith, pulls the length back, keeps low on the stumps. Smith goes back and brings his bat down in time to block.

77.5 Cheteshwar Pujara to Steve Smith, floated another full delivery on the stumps, turned out to be a yorker almost. Smith had to dig it out.

77.4 Cheteshwar Pujara to Steve Smith, loopy full delivery on the middle and off. Smith leans and drilled it straight to short extra-cover fielder.

77.2 Cheteshwar Pujara to Steve Smith, tossed up a short delivery on the off-stump. Smith goes deep inside the crease, punched it back to the bowler.

77.1 Cheteshwar Pujara to Marnus Labuschagne, drags it short on the fifth stump, wasn't much turn there. Labuschagne sat back and gently steers it to deep covers for one.

Cheteshwar Pujara, right-arm leg-spin, is into the attack.

End of Gill's first over in Test cricket. Australia chose not to attack him. It seems as though everyone is going through the motions now.