Kohli's India break first-Test jinx in Australia, create history

Sourav Ganguly-led India might have drawn the Australia series back in 2003-2004 but it is the present team which had managed to win the first Test match of a competition in this country.

Chasing a target of 323, Australia, which suffered a 31-run loss, never looked comfortable until the last two sessions which somehow led the Indian fans palpitate.

Adding to the overnight score of 104/4, the only way the Aussies moved is downward by losing some more wickets to get reduced to 186/6 at lunch on day 5.

But it was after the lunch, Australia's tail end became a headache for Virat Kohli.

Though skipper Tim Paine was dismissed post-lunch at 41, Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc stood rock-solid with their expressive batting. Both scored 28.

Even after Starc's dismissal, Australia were on hunt for a thrilling win with a partnership slowly developing between Cummins and Nathan Lyon, who scored unbeaten 38 off 47 balls.

Though Cummins left his partner, Lyon found a new mate at the crease in the form of Josh Hazlewood, who finally got trapped by Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin. Hazlewood scored 13.

Australia's second innings ended at 291.

Image: twitter.com/BCCI

Cheteshwar Pujara, whose 123 and 71, helped India to score 250 and 307 in the two innings respectively, has been declared as the player of the match.

Though Indian batting line up looked nervous in the first innings, bowlers were top of their game throughout by picking 20 wickets yet again.

Lauding the bowlers, Kohli, at a post-match interaction, said: "It was superb. Proud of our bowling unit.."

"Collectively we are a better team and we deserve to win," he added.

India now lead four-match Test series 1-0.