No fairytale ending for Australia as Jasprit Bumrah powers India to a 2-1 series lead

Despite Pat Cummins' valiant effort and rain washing away the first session of Day Five, India made sure that there was no fairytale ending for Australia as they beat the hosts by 137 runs in Melbourne to go 2-1 up in the four-Test series.

Virat Kohli and co. were just two wickets away from a morale boosting victory at the end of Day Four, and had it not been for some fighting display by the Aussie tail, especially Cummins, the match wouldn't have gone to the last day.

Knowing that they had 90 overs to get the final two wickets, the only fear in the mind of the Indian team was rain. There were predictions of a downpour on Sunday, and so it proved to be, as light showers meant the first session was washed away.

Yet, when the players returned to the filed post-Lunch, a fired up Indian pace battery needed just 27 deliveries to finish the tail. Jasprit Bumrah, who ended with nine wickets in the Test, got the massive breakthrough of the impressive Cummins, who edged one to Cheteshwar Pujara. And seven balls later, Ishant Sharma confirmed the win by bowling a brilliant bouncer, which Nathan Lyon could only manage to glove to Rishabh Pant.

Prior to the events on Day Four, India had managed to dominate the first four days, with both their batting and bowling clicking together for once. On a flat pitch, Kohli had won the toss, and his decision to bat was vindicated by the fact that the visitors declared their first innings at 443 for 7. Debutant Mayank Agarwal shone in his very first outing, scoring 76, but the star of the show were Pujara and Kohli, who scored 102 and 86 respectively.

With runs on the board, the Indian bowlers, spearheaded by the brilliant Bumrah, rocked the Aussie batting lineup with some terrific line and length. The hosts were bowled out for a mere 151, giving away a massive 292-run lead.

WATCH: Rishabh Pant Gives Tim Paine A Taste Of His Own Medicine, Mocks By Calling Him 'Temporary Captain' Who Only Knows Talking'

Surprisingly, Kohli, instead of enforcing follow-on, chose to bat again and post a target in front of Australia in the final innings. It got the hosts going, and they saw a bowling hero in Pat Cummins, who took a career-best 6 for 27 as India declared at 106 for 8, posting a 399-run target.

The Aussies in their steep chase were never in the game, and lost wickets at regular intervals. Despite all of their middle-order getting starts, none of them made a big score except Cummins. By Tea on Day Four, Australia's feat was sealed, and it only seemed matter of time before they were bowled out. But Cummins had different ideas.

He frustrated the Indians with some lovely technique, which included flowing shots and steady defence. Along with Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon, he refused to give up and somehow managed to take the game to its last day. But in the end, his effort bore no result, as India won their 150th Test match and made sure that Border-Gavaskar trophy stays home.