India vs Australia: Ashwin, Jadeja adjudged Players of the Series
What's the story
India retained the Border Gavaskar Trophy as they beat Australia 2-1 in the four-match series. While the fourth Test ended in a draw, India stamped their authority with wins in Nagpur and Delhi. India's spinners ruled the roost, and hence, Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin jointly won the Player of the Series award. Meanwhile, Virat Kohli was adjudged the Player of the Match.
Summary
How did the Ahmedabad Test pan out?
Australia elected to bat first and posted 480, with Usman Khawaja (180) and Cameron Green (114) smashing tons. Ashwin bagged a fifer. India, in reply, batted even better as Virat Kohli (186) and Shubman Gill (128) reached triple figures. India posted 571 (1st innings). Australia, in the second innings, got to 175/2, gaining a slight lead, but the match ended in a draw.
POTS
Jadeja and Ashwin rewarded for special performances
The Indian spin duo of Jadeja and Ashwin was sensational throughout the four-match Test series. Ashwin finished as the highest wicket-taker in the series as he scalped 25 wickets at 17.28. He picked two five-wicket hauls. Jadeja also picked up 22 wickets at 18.86. He picked 10/110 in the Delhi Test. He also scored 135 runs, which included a 70 in the Nagpur Test.
MoM
Virat Kohli's 28th Test century
Kohli was adjudged the Player of the match for his brilliant 186 in the fourth Test versus Australia in Ahmedabad. The former India captain scored his first Test hundred since November 2019. His 28th Test century helped the hosts overtake Australia's 480 as India scored 571. Kohli finished the series as the second-highest run-scorer (297), only behind Khawaja, who scored 333 runs in total.
Ashwin's record
Ashwin finishes with 25 wickets, Khawaja tops with 333 runs
Picking 25 wickets, Ashwin once again proved to be the mayhem for the Aussie batters. He has scalped 114 wickets against Australia, the highest by any Indian bowler in the longest format. Whereas Khawaja finished as the highest run-getter, scoring 333 runs at 47.57, courtesy of his 180 at Ahmedabad. He also scored 81 and 60 in Nagpur and Delhi Tests, respectively.
WTC final
India finish second, qualify for the WTC final
India qualified for the ICC World Test Championship final when New Zealand defeated Sri Lanka in Christchurch. Rohit Sharma's men finished second with a PCT of 58.88, having won 10 Tests, drawn three, and lost five matches. They will face Australia in the WTC final at the Oval, scheduled from June 7-11. This will be India's second WTC final.
Dominance
India's dominance at home in Tests
Ever since losing to England in 2012/13, India have not dropped a single Test series at home. They have won 16 Test series since then beating all the top teams in this period. They won 36 out of the total 46 Tests. India have lost only thrice in this period, in 2017 and 2023 versus Australia, and 2021 against England.