India win series 2-1 after fourth Test with Australia ends in a draw

India have secured a 2-1 series win against Australia after the fourth Test in Ahmedabad ended in a draw with the hosts retaining the Border-Gavaskar trophy for the fourth successive time.

After the first three Tests ended in less than three days on raging turners, the series finale was played on a lifeless pitch as just 22 wickets fell across 15 sessions.

Starting day five on Monday still trailing India by 91 runs, Australia were comfortably steered to safety by Travis Head (90) and Marnus Labuschange (63 not out) as the match was called off early with neither team capable of securing a victory.

The teams shook hands just an over after Indian No 3 Cheteshwar Pujara bowled the second over of his 102-Test career.

Australia declared on 175-2 with Labuschange and Steve Smith (10 not out) at the crease after making 480 in their first innings when Usman Khawaja (180) and Cameron Green (114) scored memorable centuries.

But India batted even better, piling on 571 as Virat Kohli (186) broke through for his first century in more than three years and young opener Shubman Gill scored an excellent 128.

Australia’s regular No 11 Matt Kuhnemann was the only wicket to fall in the first session on Monday after the spinner was sent in as a nightwatchman on Sunday with Head in place of Khawaja.

The in-form opener is struggling with an unspecified leg injury after hurting himself in the field on Sunday and looked sore trying to run in the nets before play on day five.

Khawaja was only a chance to bat if Australia found themselves in serious trouble trying to save the match.

India retained the Border-Gavaskar trophy after winning the first two Tests of the four-match series.

Australia could have secured a rare 2-2 series result with a win