The cricket was tough, the tempo remained slow and the intensity stayed scalding hot. Burnished with patience, India progressed towards victory through measured steps. Australia resisted and its lower-order strung hope-sprouting partnerships: 41, 31, 41, 31 and 32.

But, Virat Kohli’s men could not be denied their success. At 3.39 p.m. local time on the fifth and concluding day of the first Test, R. Ashwin dismissed Josh Hazlewood. The southpaw was tentative, the edge flew to K.L. Rahul at slip and Kohli punched the air.