India's fourth Test form guide

Murali Vijay

M: 2 | Runs: 82 | Average: 31.33 | SR: 41.77 | HS: 82

Best performance: Returning from a shoulder injury in the third Test, Vijay threw a century away when he was stumped in the last over before lunch on day three. A class player who has just been rewarded with an upgraded contract from the BCCI.

KL Rahul

M: 3 | Runs: 282 | Average: 56.40 | SR: 56.62 | HS: 90

Best performance: The best batsman in the series without a century, Rahul has posted fifties in five innings. The 90 he scored in Bengaluru set up India’s first innings while his 67 in Ranchi came at a fair clip until a rip-snorter from Pat Cummins ended his stay.

Cheteshwar Pujara

M: 3 | Runs: 348 | Average: 69.60 | SR: 38.96 | HS: 202

Best performance: The obvious answer is his double-century in Ranchi but that was on a road where the batsmen cashed in. His 92 in Bengaluru, however, powered India to a match-winning lead. The classy right-hander is now India’s No.1 Test batsman and is undoubtedly a prize scalp for the Australians.

Virat Kohli

M: 3 | Runs: 46 | Average: 9.2 | SR: 44.23 | HS: 15

Best performance: It’s been a poor tour for the India captain. He started off with a duck in Pune before twice leaving balls to his demise. He looked at his best on a difficult wicket in Bengaluru but the DRS found him lbw. Injured in Ranchi he could only manage six. Australia paceman Josh Hazlewood summed it up perfectly: “For every time he doesn’t get runs he’s closer to that big knock, and being a class player it’s going to be at some stage. Hopefully, it’s not this next game.”

Ajinkya Rahane

M: 3 | Runs: 114 | Average: 22.80 | SR: 40.00 | HS: 52

Best performance: Runs have been scarce for the talented No.5 but his half-century in the second innings at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in concert with Pujura put the match beyond reach of the tourists. He took over the captaincy reins when Kohli was injured in Ranchi and looks primed for a key contribution.

Karun Nair

M: 2 | Runs: 49 | Average: 16.33 | SR: 56.32 | HS: 26

Best performance: After missing the first Test, Nair hasn’t been able to recapture the stunning form that saw him score 303no against England late last year. He looked promising in the second Test but gifted his wicket away when he ran down the pitch and missed a Stephen O’Keefe off-break.

Ravi Ashwin

M: 3 | Overs: 188.3 | Wickets: 17 | Average: 28.94 | SR: 66.5 | BB: 6-41

Best performance: Ashwin was unstoppable in the fourth innings in Bengaluru, running through Australia with a spell of 5-6 in 28 balls to even the series ledger at one win apiece. Without Starc’s footmarks both Ashwin and Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon struggled for potency in Ranchi.

Wriddhiman Saha

M: 3 | Runs: 143 | Average: 35.75 | SR: 47.82 | HS: 117

Best performance: Shunted down the order behind Ashwin, Saha needed an innings to prove his worth as a batsman and he delivered in Ranchi with a tremendous century. His four previous innings yielded just 26 runs but now the gloveman has returned to form.

Ravindra Jadeja

M: 3 | Overs: 180.1 | Wickets: 21 | Average: 18.23 | SR: 51.4 | BB: 6-63

Best performance: In batsmen-friendly conditions in Ranchi, Jadeja was the only bowler to consistently be a threat. Darting his left-arm orthodox deliveries into the rough, Jadeja captured nine wickets for the match and in the process became the sole No.1 Test bowler in the world having shared the mantle with Ashwin.

Umesh Yadav

M: 3 | Overs: 104 | Wickets: 12 | Average: 25 | SR: 52.0 | BB: 4-32

Best performance: On a Pune wicket that spun prodigiously from ball one, it was the right-arm pace of Umesh that did the most damage in Australia’s first innings of the series. His 4-32 included the Australia vice-captain David Warner before he wrapped up the tail in quick fashion.

Ishant Sharma

M: 3 | Overs: 78 | Wickets: 3 | Average: 69.66 | SR: 156.0 | BB: 1-28

Best performance: Ishant’s best spell came was in the morning session on day five in Ranchi where he produced good pace and reverse swing to dismiss youngster Matthew Renshaw. While he’s capable of bowling unplayable deliveries, the consistency hasn’t been there for the right-armer this series. 

Test Squads

India (for fourth Test): Virat Kohli (c), Murali Vijay, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Wriddhiman Saha, Ravichandaran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Ishant Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Karun Nair, Jayant Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav, Abhinav Mukund, Mohammed Shami.

Australia: Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Ashton Agar, Jackson Bird, Pat Cummins, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Stephen O'Keefe, Matthew Renshaw, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, Matthew Wade

Australia's schedule in India

Feb 23-27, First Test, Pune – Australia won by 333 runs.

Mar 4-8, Second Test, Bengaluru – India won by 75 runs.

Mar 16-20, Third Test, Ranchi – match drawn.

Mar 25-29, Fourth Test, Dharamsala