Finally, India ended the 10-year drought on the Australian soil by registering a terrific 31–run win in the first Test at the Adelaide Oval. While chasing a humongous target of 323 runs, the hosts got bowled out on 291, handing over a 1-0 lead to the visitors.
India won a Test match in Adelaide after 15 years. They last won a game here in 2003 when Rahul Dravid smashed a total of 302 runs (233 in the 1st innings and 72* in the 2nd), guiding India to a 4-wicket victory.
With this victory, Kohli became the first Asian captain to win a Test match in South Africa, England and Australia. They also became the first Asian side to win Tests in England, Australia and South Africa in a calendar year.
India’s road to victory turned tougher in the second session with some solid partnerships between Pat Cummins & Tim Paine (31 runs), Pat Cummins & Mitchell Starc (41 runs), Nathon Lyon & Pat Cummins (31 runs) and Lyon & Josh Hazlewood (32 runs). Their fight turned out to be truly commendable, however, the visitors managed to dismantle them gradually.
Soon after the lunch break, Bumrah ended Tim Paine’s 41-run stint at the crease with a short ball. The Australian skipper was rocking back on the pull, but all he managed was a top-edge. Pant took the 10th catch to equal Wriddhiman Saha's Indian record for most dismissals in a game.
Cummins along with Starc continued frustrating the Indian bowlers. The duo patiently tackled the blow from the visitors and managed to add 41 runs for the 8th wicket.
In the 101st over, Mohammed Shami broke this streak and sent Starc back to the dressing room. The Aussie quick opted to drive but the ball took the nick of the bat and Pant took the 11th catch to become the first Indian wicketkeeper to take 11 catches in a Test, equalling the records of Jack Russell and AB de Villiers.
8 overs later, Bumrah struck again to claim his third, removing dangerman Cummins whose presence was hurting India the most. A back of a length delivery, moving outside off, took a fine edge and Kohli made no mistake in grabbing it at the second slip.
Like every previous tail-ender, Josh Hazlewood, the last man to bat for Australia, also troubled the hosts along with Nathan Lyon. They added another major partnership of 32 runs but Ashwin hit the last nail in the coffin, removing Hazlewood for 13.
For the tourists, pacers Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin grabbed three wickets apiece while veteran Ishant Sharma also took a wicket.
Cheteshwar Pujara was adjudged the Man of the Match for his magnificent 123 in the first innings followed by a supportive 70 in the second.
Earlier, Australian batting kept India under a bit of a pressure as they scored 81 runs after losing two wickets in the morning session. Starting from overnight 104 for four, the Head-Marsh partnership lasted only 7.4 overs before India forced a breakthrough with the old Kookaburra ball.
Head was the first to go, with Ishant Sharma (1-48) bowling a sharp bouncer that followed the batsman and left him no room.
Marsh shouldered the responsibility and scored his first half-century in the fourth innings of a Test off 146 balls. It was his 10th Test half-century overall. He had looked comfortable at the crease all morning, but Bumrah removed him after the drinks break. The big moment came as the ball moved away just a tad and Marsh gave the slightest of edges to be caught behind in the 73rd over.
Batting first, India were all out for 250 in their first innings and then bowled out the hosts for 235 to take a 15-run lead. They amassed 307 in their second innings to set Australia a challenging target.
Brief scores:
India: 250 and 307
Australia: 235 and 291 all out in 119.5 overs (Shaun Marsh 60, Tim Paine 41; Mohammed Shami 3/65, Jasprit Bumrah 3/68, R Ashwin 3/92)