Kohli & His Merry Men Keep Date With Destiny

India retains Border-Gavaskar Trophy; Bumrah is Man-of-the-Match for his nine-wicket haul

- S. Dinakar

You can freeze the frame. A joyous Virat Kohli defying gravity, leaping as high as his ambition, even as teammates swarm around him.

Ishant Sharma bounced at Nathan Lyon, the batsman attempted a hook, and a gleeful ’keeper Rishabh Pant held the top­edge. The Test had been won.

Staunch support

Soon the MCG was awash with emotions. The Indians, both relieved and joyous, celebrated a famous overseas win, the chanting of its supporters and the beating of the drums grew louder.

The fans had braved inclement weather, sung and danced to cheer their team even when no play was possible in the frustrating prelunch session onday five owing to drizzle and rain.

When play finally commenced, India took just 27 deliveries to remove the last two batsmen, win the Test by 137 runs and retain the Border­Gavaskar Trophy.

With an unassailable 2­1 lead in the four­Test series, the visitors will now attempt to accomplish what no Indian team has ever done — triumph in a Test series in Australia — when the Sydney Test begins on January 3.