There was a spring in the step for Indian cricket fans in Delhi after five years. Axar Patel’s daredevil batting, Ravindra Jadeja’s wizardry, Ravi Ashwin and Virat Kohli’s milestone displays paved the way for India to outmuscle Australia in the second Test at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.

Let’s make it clear. The victory was not easy. The rapidly-deteriorating pitch was a boon to spinners and a nightmare for batters. But guess what? It’s India, playing in India. Hence, defeat is a rare word to find in the dictionary of Test results on home soil.

A decisive first half on Day 3, which saw Cheteshwar Pujara hit the winning runs in his 100th Test, preserved India’s unbeaten Test status in Delhi since 1987 and saw the hosts retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the fourth straight time.

Shami rubber-stamps India’s authority on Day 1

It goes without saying that Mohammed Shami is one of the most under-rated pacers in cricket. His near-unplayable deliveries backed with impeccable lengths made Australia’s batting order quiver, especially David Warner. His 4/60 was the standout spell by any Indian as the visitors were bundled out for 263.

Axar’s ‘Power Ranger’ innings

Cometh the hour, cometh the man. Axar Patel’s 74 and 114-run partnership with Ravichandran Ashwin saw India overcome their early top-order collapse and post 262 in the first innings. Australia’s lead? Reduced to 1 run. And it’s all thanks to Axar’s determined knock in the lower order.

Jaddu, a modern Test all-rounder great

Jadeja is on a new-found spree of match-winning displays. A 10-wicket haul, including a career-best 7/42, and a cameo of 26 runs in the first innings saw the star all-rounder become the quickest Indian to 2,500 runs and 250 wickets in Tests. A modern Test great indeed!

Collapse (The Australian version)

Australia ended Day 2 at 61/1, hoping to put on a confident show with the bat on Day 3. No one, and absolutely no one, would have predicted the visitors to lose eight wickets for a mere 28 runs in the opening hours of Day 3, including four in 11 deliveries (95/3 to 95/7) before drinks.

Another record in the hat for King Kohli

Virat Kohli makes batting look easy, and that is no ordinary statement. The talismanic top-order batter, with 8,195 Test runs in 106 matches, became the quickest to 25,000 runs in international cricket. He achieved it in fewer innings (549) than Sachin Tendulkar (577) to take ownership of the exclusive club.

Brief Scores: India 262 (Axar Patel 74, Virat Kohli 44, Nathan Lyon 5/67) and 118/4 (Rohit Sharma 31, Cheteshwar Pujara 31, Nathan Lyon 2/49) beat Australia 263 (Usman Khawaja 81, Peter Handscomb 72*, Mohammed Shami 4/60) and 113 (Head 43, Ravindra Jadeja 7/42, R Ashwin 3/59) by six wickets