Sydney [Australia], January 5: After defeating India at the Sydney Cricket Ground and stomping its foot in the bitter rivalry with a 3-1 series victory, Australia ended a 10-year break and successfully regained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

His side was saddened by Rohit Sharma’s decision to skip the last Test. When he saw India’s increasing suffering on the field, head coach Gautam Gambhir seemed disheartened. The SCG Test was summed up by the two veterans’ feelings.

The three days were a combination of seeing dreams and then seeing them come crashing down in before of India’s eyes. India’s aspirations of making it to the World Test Championship final for the third consecutive year were dashed by the six-wicket loss.

However, Australia’s victory in Sydney secured their spot against South Africa in the WTC final at the storied Lord’s. With the goal of successfully defending the WTC mace, the Baggy Greens will enter the arena.

India’s collapse in the first hour of Day 3 made the triumph in Perth a faint memory. Ravindra Jadeja attempted, but failed terribly, to protect his line before Australia’s skipper Pat Cummins squeezed out an edge. Washington Sundar was dismissed for 12 (43), after the Australian captain tucked one back in.

On Day 2, Jasprit Bumrah, who had left the field to have scans and then come back to the dressing room, took the crease to bat first for his team. He immediately made his intentions known by pursuing the bowlers. On the opening ball, he took a wayward stroke, but Scott Boland ultimately outscored him.

Boland’s blazing spells continued to plague the visitors until India’s innings was over. In order to offer Usman Khawaja an advantage, he enticed Mohammed Siraj.

He clicked 133.1 kph a minute later, just in time to see the ball smash into the top of the leg stump. Bumrah attempted a reckless swing but failed to hit the ball’s line. India was all out on 157 after his departure, leaving Australia with a 162-run goal to meet.

Australia’s aim was a meager 162 runs, and Sam Konstas immediately attacked an Indian bowling attack without Bumrah. After experiencing back spasms on Day 2, Jasprit Bumrah, the replacement captain, raised questions about his engagement with the ball.

When he stepped out to bat, there were early expectations that he would do well with the new ball. But as soon as Bumrah disappeared off the field, the eager glances turned to despair.

Mohammed Siraj led the attack and bowled with Prasidh Krishna while Bumrah was not present. The Indian team’s first fantasy vanished as he held a gleaming kookaburra.

Siraj’s mind was tricked by the strain, which ultimately overcame him. In the first over, he let up 13 runs after forgetting his line and lengths.

Prasidh Krishna too seemed to be affected by the strain, as he lost his consistency and conceded 13 runs in the second over alone.

With Sam Konstas controlling the action and Australia riding high on momentum, India needed some motivation from its proven pace pair.

Prasidh Krishna provided the inspiration by cutting Australia to three wickets just before lunch. Konstas’ misdirected shot to Washington Sundar was the beginning of it all.

Steven Smith missed joining the club of 10,000 Test runs, while Marnus Labuschagne easily defeated Yashasvi Jaiswal.

Smith was only one shot away from commemorating a significant career milestone in front of his home fans. Prasidh, however, pushed Smith to commit to the shot by drawing more bounce from the surface.

In an attempt to block the rising delivery, Smith seemed hopeless. Eventually, he sliced it to Yashasvi Jaiswal, who sprang from the third slip to make an incredible catch. Prasidh slapped the air in joy over the vital wicket, while Jaiswal set off in a run to celebrate.

India wanted to take wickets quickly as the second session went on, but that opportunity never materialized. Usman Khawaja gave Siraj an advantage, but it wasn’t enough to strengthen India’s argument for winning.

The bowlers persisted, but Travis Head and Beau Webster stood their own and helped Australia go closer to a historic victory at the SCG and in the BGT context.

The Indian players’ body language gradually deteriorated as the hosts, grinning broadly, swept to victory. The BGT returned to Australia after debutant Webster found the boundary rope to cap it off in style. Head and Webster scored 34(38) and 39(34), respectively, and came back undefeated.

In summary, Australia defeated India 181 & 162/4 (Travis Head 34*, Beau Webster 39*; Prasidh Krishna 3-65) 185 & 157 (Rishabh Pant 61, Yashasvi Jaiswal 22, Scott Boland 6/45).