INDIA WIN BY 8 WICKETS!!!

INDIA WIN SERIES 2-1

India 106-2 (23.5 ovs) vs Aus; Target: 106 | Scorecard

India crushed Australia by eight wickets to win the fourth and final Test in Dharamsala as they also emerged 2-1 winners in the four-match series.

KL Rahul flicked O'Keefe for three runs through midwicket to claim his sixth half-century of the series, his fifth in a row, and also guide India to victory.

India register an emphatic eight-wicket victory which saw them win the series 2-1 and reclaim the Border Gavaskar Trophy.

Rahul finished unbeaten on another solid innings of 51 as he continued his superb run with the bat, while Rahane hastened the end with a quickfire 38 from 27 balls.

The match was evenly poised till the second day before Ravindra Jadeja gave India a slight edge with his superb knock of 63 as they took a vital lead of 32 runs. The Indian bowlers then rose to the occasion as they fired in unison and bundled out Australia for 137.

Chasing 106 was never going to be a problem for the Indians even though they lost Vijay and Pujara cheaply, Rahul ensured that he guided the team home.

That brings an end to India's grand home series which saw them register series victories against New Zealand, England, Bangladesh and Australia.

Overall, they played 13 Tests, winning 10 matches, losing one, while two finished in a draw.

Interestingly, India have emerged winners in their last Test rubbers against all countries.

India 95-2 (22 ovs) vs Aus; Target: 106 | Scorecard

A single to Rahul as he inches closer to his fifty, he already has five in the series so far. Rahane is beaten by one that turns big as the ball hits the pads and goes fine on the leg side for four leg byes which brings up India's 100.

Rahane then taps it on the off-side for a single to bring Rahul back on strike, who takes another run.

Four runs needed for victory while Rahul needs two runs for his fifty but he takes a single on the leg side to move to 49 and Rahane picks one.

India 95-2 (22 ovs) vs Aus; Target: 106 | Scorecard

In the next over, Rahane hits Lyon on the off-side for one before Rahul goes back and cuts Lyon past point for a four to take his score to 46.

He drives the fifth ball through the covers along the ground but Cummins does well at mid-off to save a boundary as he gets down in time. Lyon turns the last ball which spins in sharply as Rahul is hit on the pads but way outside the off-stump.

O'Keefe comes back after Cummins was hit for two sixes by Rahane in his previous over. Rahane nudges the spinner on the leg side and comes back for the second run with the fielder slow to get tot he ball. The fifth ball is down the leg side as Rahane sweeps it fine for a four to race to 36 from 22 balls, and brings the target down to 11 runs.

India 84-2 (20 ovs) vs Aus; Target: 106 | Scorecard

Rahane not holding back as he pulls a short ball from Cummins clocked at 146kph high over square leg for a six.

Rahane is a man on a mission! The next ball is again short and Rahane makes room and smashes it over the off-side for another six as he races to 28 from 15 balls.

Cummins continues to bowl bouncers as Rahane again plays the pull, for a single to fine leg.

On the other hand, Rahul is content to see off the bouncers as he ducks under them comfortably.

India 62-2 (17 ovs) vs Aus; Target: 106 | Scorecard

Wonder why Indians are risking the quick singles when runs are coming so freely? Rahul taps Cummins on the off-side and goes for a quick run as Maxwell scores another direct hit from point but the opener manages to make his ground in time.

Cummins tries a short ball which goes down the leg side as Rahane pulls it fine for a four to race to 15 from 11 balls with three fours.

Rahul drives Lyon to long-on for one and Rahane picks a single on the square leg before the former gets an inside edge which falls short of fine leg inside the circle.

Rahul punches the last ball which is a bit short through the covers for a couple.

After the first hour, India have reached 71 for two in 19 overs, needing another 35 runs for victory. They scored positively in the first hour, hitting 52 runs in 13 overs and have not been affected by the two wickets.

Rahul has continued his good run with the bat, hitting a brisk 42 from 61 balls, while Rahane has stroked his way to 16 from 13 balls.

India 62-2 (17 ovs) vs Aus; Target: 106 | Scorecard

Nathan Lyon comes into the attack in place of Hazlewood, who bowled a good spell in the morning. New batsman Ajinkya Rahane gets off the mark with a single off the first ball he faces to long-on as Australia strangely spread the field for the new batsman.

Rahul is beaten off the last ball as Lyon gets one to go straight and go past the edge of the bat.

Rahane looks in a rush as he plays a cracking straight drive past mid-off for a four. The next ball is short and Rahane pulls it over midwicket for another boundary to settle some nerves in the Indian dressing room.

He picks a single off the fourth ball to deep square leg before Cummins squares up Rahul with a good short directed at the body which he fends on the off-side as it falls safely and he somehow keeps the next short ball down.

Rahane sweeps Lyon on the leg side for one before Rahul gets the edge which goes through the vacant thirdman region for his third four. He has been quite positive as he sweeps the fifth ball to fine leg for another run.

India are 62 for two in 17 overs, with another 44 runs needed for victory.

India 46-2 (14 ovs) vs Aus; Target: 106 | Scorecard

Hazlewood bowls a good short ball, which hits the crack and comes in sharply and strikes Rahul on the thighpad. The next ball moves away as Rahul is again struck high on the pads as he is all squared up trying to defend.

Hazlewood is bowling some superb deliveries as he again beats Rahul outside the off-stump who then keeps one out which stays quite low.

Three testing overs from Hazlewood as Smith brings in Pat Cummins from the other end.

The first ball is short down the leg side which Vijay avoids as wicketkeeper Wade appeals but no one else is interested before the opener takes one on the off-side and Rahul nudges the next to fine leg for one.

The fifth ball is driven through the covers by Vijay but the fielder does well to stop it and save some runs.

Interestingly, the replays show that the ball had kissed Vijay's gloves off the first delivery of the over but Australia didn't appeal for it and missed out on a possible wicket.

Hazlewood errs with his length as he drops one short and Rahul is quick to rock back and pull it through square leg for a four.

Two balls later Rahul plays an awkward shot as he looks to pull one down the leg side but looks to be caught in a tangle.

Cummins makes the first breakthrough as he gets Vijay caught behind with a superb outswinger as the right-hander again pokes his bat at one outside the off-stump to be caught behind for eight.

A slight boost for Australia but India won't be worried as they now need 60 runs for victory with nine wickets in hand.

New batsman Cheteshwar Pujara survives a close shout for LBW with the ball looking to slip down the leg side. However, he perishes off the last ball of the over as a huge misunderstanding with Rahul causes his downfall.

Pujara taps it on the off-side and sets off for a quick single before he stops, hesitates and then continues to run but by then it is too late as Maxwell scores a direct hit to run him out for a duck.

Suddenly, Australia are back in the hunt with India reduced to 46 for two, with another 60 runs needed for victory.

India 40-0 (10 ovs) vs Aus; Target: 106 | Scorecard

Hazlewood bowling a good spell first up as he gets Rahul to edge one but it goes between the slips for a four. He then taps it on the off-side and gets off strike with a quick single before Vijay blocks the rest of the over.

Rahul's intent has been quite positive despite India not needing too many for victory. He comes forward and slaps a wide half volley from O'Keefe for a four through the covers and two balls later he sweeps the spinner through square leg for another boundary to race to 28 from 30 balls, having hit five fours already.

And again he tucks the fifth ball on the leg side and picks up another single as India race to 40 for no loss in 10 overs, needing another 66 for victory.

They have got off to a quick start, scoring 21 runs from four overs on Day 4 to speed up their victory charge.

India 26-0 (8 ovs) vs Aus; Target: 106 | Scorecard

Josh Hazlewood to kick off proceedings on Day 4 with Australia needing a miraculous performance with the ball to claim an unlikely victory.

India need just 87 runs for victory with all 10 wickets in hand.

The first ball is well pitched up as Vijay defends it with a straight bat and three balls later he is struck on the pads by an incoming delivery but the LBW appeal is turned down with the impact just outside the off-stump. The next ball is fuller and comes in and again Vijay is caught on the crease and hit on the pads but the inside edge saves him this time.

It's spin from one end as Steve O'Keefe starts off from the other end. KL Rahul turns the first ball on the leg side for one for the first run of the day and Vijay drives the next to long-off for another single.

The third ball is short as Rahul goes back and cuts but can't beat the fielder at point. The fifth ball hits the crack and turns sharply but keeps low as it beats both the batsman and the wicketkeeper and goes for four byes before Rahul turns it to fine leg for a single to keep strike.

India 19-0 (6 ovs) vs Aus; Target: 106 | Scorecard

Welcome to the coverage of Day 4 of the fourth and final Test between India and Australia in Dharamsala on Tuesday.

India stand 87 runs away from a famous victory which would also help them clinch the series 2-1 and regain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and also keep their winning run at home intact. This will also be the final day of a long home series for the Indians, who have featured in 13 consecutive Tests at home, starting from October.

India's bowlers came up with a splendid performance on the third day to wrest the initiative after the tourists were bowled out for 137 in their second innings.

All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja was the star performer for India as he struck a fifty to give India a handy first innings lead before returning to claim three Australian wickets. After two days of fluctuating fortunes, India surged ahead in the morning session when they fashioned a valuable 32-run lead before being dismissed for 332 on the stroke of lunch.

On the liveliest of the four pitches used in the series, Australian top order struggled against the bouncing ball before Jadeja (3-29) and Ravichandran Ashwin shared six wickets between them to bowl out the tourists for 137.

Chasing 106 to complete a 2-1 series victory, India were 19 for no loss at stumps on Day 3.

Openers Lokesh Rahul (13) and Murali Vijay (six) will resume on Tuesday, with the hosts looking set to complete a comprehensive win.