4th Test IND vs AUS 2023 – Battle Between Ends in a Draw: The recently concluded 4th Test of the Australia tour of India ended in a tedious draw due to the lifeless pitch at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
The pitch was so slow that it didn’t result in any actual wickets even though the conditions got progressively difficult as the Test progressed. However, the draw was enough to secure the series win for India, with a score of 2-1, in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, which was played for the fourth successive time.
India needed to win three Tests in the series to secure their participation in the World Test Championship final, but they received good news just as the second session was beginning.
New Zealand had won a thriller in Christchurch to deny Sri Lanka, the only side that could challenge India’s progress to the final. As a result, the India huddle was seen shaking hands just as it was confirmed that Kane Williamson had completed the bye that won them the Test off the final ball.
As for the match, Australia needed to bat a little over two sessions to practically ensure the draw, and they did just that. The only two wickets they lost on the day were of Matthew Kuhnemann and Travis Head.
4th Test IND vs AUS 2023: Battle Between Ends in a Draw as India Win the Test Series 2-1
Kuhnemann was given out LBW by R Ashwin, but the ball was missing leg. Head, who was nearing his century, was dismissed by Axar Patel with a flighted delivery that landed in the rough.
Head and Marnus Labuschagne batted for Australia, and they ensured there was no drama on the final day of the Test. Labuschagne began the series as a key batter, but he didn’t score a fifty in the first three Tests, even though he made desperate changes to his game to succeed.
Head, on the other hand, came with a question mark on his game against spin, which made his inclusion in the first Test uncertain.
However, Head found a spot in the opening thanks to David Warner’s injury and eased their potentially tricky chase in Indore. He made sure the runs came quickly, which took Australia to parity and then past India’s lead.
4th Test IND vs AUS 2023: Battle Between Ends in a Draw as India Win the Test Series 2-1
Labuschagne, on the other hand, was in no rush, and he just wanted to enjoy his time in the sun. He added just seven to his 56 at tea and kept patting back half-volleys.
The closest India came to getting Labuschagne out was when Ravindra Jadeja and Ashwin found his inside edge. But Jadeja didn’t have a short leg, and Ashwin didn’t have a backward short-leg. Head’s dismissal by Patel got him to 50 wickets in just 12 Tests, even though he has got just three in this series.
The only matter of interest in the final session of the Test was if Labuschagne would get to a hundred. However, that interest was killed pretty quickly as the teams shook hands with 17.5 overs remaining.
Australia declared at that point to give India 15 overs to bat, which is when the sides can agree to end a Test in a draw. The declaration was as emphatic a statement as any against the pitch rolled out for the Test.
4th Test IND vs AUS 2023: Battle Between Ends in a Draw as India Win the Test Series 2-1
4th Test IND vs AUS 2023 – World Test Championship Final 2023:
Both India and Australia will now face off again in the WTC final at The Oval in London in early June. India has to figure out their best XI to take on a strong Australian side that will be itching to avenge their recent series defeat in India.
The Indian team management will have a tough task ahead of them, especially with the bowling unit. The spin department will undoubtedly have Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel, but the team may have to choose between Ishant Sharma and Mohammed Shami as the third seamer. Sharma has the experience, while Shami has been in excellent form lately.
