The ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy promised us cricket fans plenty of twists and turns, and it lived up to it, ‘literally’, with the third Test at Indore.

Nathan Lyon’s unwavering spell, Matthew Kuhnemann’s five-star fifer, India’s batting struggles, Australia’s lower-order collapse and a mere 76-run target are some of the talking points of a rare Test defeat at home for our boys.

India batting order falters on Day 1

It was one of the rare days in Indian cricket history where no batter scored past the 30-run mark in the first innings. Virat Kohli was the top run-getter with 22 runs as the hosts were bundled out for 109 in just 33.2 overs.

Kuhnemann makes the Indore pitch his own

"I could live here in Indore and play the rest of my career here, these are awesome conditions", said Matthew Kuhnemann after registering a game-changing 5/16 on Day 1. Nicknamed the Australian ‘Jaddu’, he spun his way around the Indian batting order in the first innings and left no room for the likes of Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer to counter-attack with the bat.

Rare Australia lower-order collapse

On the back foot in the Test, India needed a checkpoint for a possible turnaround. Did it come? Yes. When? At the end of the 70th over.

With the Aussies at 186/4 going into the 70th over, Ravi Ashwin and Umesh Yadav combined forces to dismiss the Kangaroos’ final six batters for a mere 11 runs in 34 balls. Perhaps a fight back on the cards for Rohit Sharma and Co.?

Lyon regains his throne as BGT’s bowling master

Nathan Lyon played the ‘Punisher’ role to the T as he made merry of India’s batting troubles. His 8/64, the second-best bowling figures in an innings in the Border Gavaskar Trophy, saw him go past Anil Kumble for most wickets (overall) in the series (113*). In short, the 35-year-old has earned himself the title of the BGT’s bowling master.

Australia complete easy run chase

Any Indian cricket fan would know that an INDvAUS Test would never be a one-sided game. Sadly, this was one. Ashwin drew first blood with the early wicket of Usman Khawaja as Australia began their run chase of 76 runs on Day 3. But, Travis Head’s unbeaten 49 saw the visitors wrap up the Test match in 18.5 overs and draw one back into the four-match Border Gavaskar Trophy.

What does this result mean? Australia qualifies as the first finalist of the World Test Championship 2023. So, is India out? No. We are still in the mix to make the final without relying on Sri Lanka’s results against New Zealand. A win in the fourth and final Test at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad should do the job.

Brief Scores

Australia 197 (Usman Khawaja 60, Ravindra Jadeja 4-78, Umesh Yadav 3-12) and 78 for 1 (Travis Head 49*) beat India 109 (Matthew Kuhnemann 5-16, Nathan Lyon 3-35) and 163 (Cheteshwar Pujara 59, Nathan Lyon 8-64) by nine wickets.