Ten defining Border-Gavaskar moments

Starc's swashbuckling cameo

First Test, Day One

The situation of the match: Having just lost 4-15, Australia were dangerously positioned at 9-205 after they elected to bat first on a big-turning surface in Pune.

What happened: Not only did Mitchell Starc steer his side to what proved to be a match-winning total of 260, the manner in which he compiled his 61 crucial runs turned the momentum of the match irreversibly in Australia's favour. The left-hander boldly took on India's spinners, launching three sixes and six fours in a 55-run stand with Josh Hazlewood, of which the No.11 contributed just a single but crucially blocked out 31 deliveries.

The outcome: The contribution of Australia's last-wicket pair proved to be the second-largest of a low-scoring match as India capitulated twice with the bat to hand the tourists a 333-run victory.

SOK's stunning spell

First Test, Day Two

The situation of the match: Australia's quicks had struck three crucial blows early in India's innings, but the match was evenly-poised when KL Rahul and Ajinkya Rahane steered the hosts to 3-94, 166 runs behind.

What happened: In the space of 47 extraordinary deliveries, India's middle and lower order were ripped out for the cost of just 11 runs to hand Australia a stunning 155-run lead on the first innings. Spinner Steve O'Keefe was the destroyer with six wickets, including three in an over, as he and Nathan Lyon ensured seven of India's eleven batsmen were dismissed for single-figure scores.

The outcome: Such an advantage on the first innings was always going to be hard to pull in for the hosts and the match was Australia's to lose when a superb century from Steve Smith helped set an impossible victory target of 441. And India's batting order collapsed once again, with O'Keefe taking another six wickets to secure a 1-0 series lead.

Super Smith shows his class

First Test, Day Two & Three

The situation of the match: While Australia had gained a shock 155-run lead on the first innings, they needed to post another solid total on a surface that was beginning to offer the bowlers some wild variation in pace and bounce.

What happened: India opened with spin from both ends and claimed two early wickets, but captain Steve Smith was immovable as he crafted one of the best centuries of his career. He had plenty of luck, but the manner in which the skipper defied India's tweakers on a pitch that saw every other batsman struggle was extraordinary. The fact that the next highest individual score from both teams in the second innings was just 31 highlighted Smith's genius, the right-hander scoring 109 of Australia's total of 285.

The outcome: Smith's ton pushed India's victory target out to 441 and they capitulated with the bat in the second innings, dismissed for just 107 as Australia took a 1-0 series lead.

Jadeja stunts Australia's growing lead

Second Test, Day Three

The situation of the match: Australia entered day three of the second Test with a lead of 48 and with four wickets still in hand. With Matthew Wade and the in-form Mitchell Starc at the crease, a lead in excess of 100 was not out of reach.

What happened: The left-handed duo moved Australia's total to 269, a lead of 80, early on before a pivotal late collapse opened the door for the hosts to get back into the match. After Ravi Ashwin tempted Starc into one big shot too many, Ravi Jadeja took control, claiming Australia's last three wickets for just two runs to limit the damage.

The outcome: Australia's late collapse of 4-7 restricted their lead to 87, a significant advantage on a wearing surface but one that proved to be not enough as India fought back to level the series with a 75-run win.

Pujara, Rahane stand tall

Second Test, Day Three

The situation of the match: Having earned an 87-run first-innings lead on an unpredictable surface, Australia were on top when they reduced the hosts to 4-120 in their second innings, with India holding a lead of just 33.

What happened: When Rahane joined Cheteshwar Pujara at the crease, the Australians would have rightly fancied their chances of breaking the partnership early. The duo had added just 102 runs between them in six innings to that point in the series and Rahane was under pressure having managed just one half-century in his previous 11 Test innings. But the pair ground out a decisive 118-run stand, the first century partnership of the series to that point, to help set Australia 188 to win.

The outcome: Even after Australia's quicks fought back on the fourth morning to take India's last six wickets for 36 runs, India's fourth-wicket stand had pushed the victory target out to a total that proved to be far too much on a deteriorating wicket.

Ashwin's six levels series

Second Test, Day Four

The situation of the match: A see-sawing match in Bengaluru was set to reach a stunning conclusion when the Aussies were set 188 to win on the fourth day, a middling target that would have had both teams fancying their chances when Australia's openers strode to the middle.

What happened: While Umesh Yadav had got the key wicket of Steve Smith, it was Ravi Ashwin who secured the Test for his side. Having continued his strong record against David Warner by removing him in his first spell for 17, the off-spinner returned to the attack just before tea with the match still on a knife's edge at 4-98. But Ashwin turned the contest India's way, removing Mitchell Marsh and Matthew Wade in his two overs before the interval to make the score 6-101. He then polished off the tail, finishing with 6-41 as Australia were all out for 112.

The outcome: As tensions from a controversial final day simmered following India's win, both teams headed to Ranchi with the series square at one-all.

Pujara bats. And bats. And bats

Third Test, Day Two, Three & Four

The situation of the match: India's openers strode to the crease just before tea on the second day in Ranchi with days of batting standing between them and Australia's imposing first-innings total of 451. And Australia's hold on the match was firm when the hosts were reduced to 6-328 just before stumps on day three, a deficit of 123 and the prospect of batting last ahead of them.

What happened: Having batted through the entirety of day three when five teammates fell around him, Pujara returned on day four with an unbeaten 130 to his name but plenty of work still ahead of him. And with only the out-of-form Wriddhiman Saha and the tail for support, Australia were eyeing off a return to the batting crease before lunch. But the duo ground their way through an extraordinary 63.2 overs on the fourth day before Pujara was finally dismissed for 202 from a marathon 525 balls, their partnership worth a record-breaking 199 that not only staved off the prospect of defeat, but gave rise to hopes of an Indian victory.

The outcome: Pujara's dismissal when the score was 527 was followed by a quickfire knock from Ravindra Jadeja that pushed the lead out to 152 and, when Australia lost two wickets before stumps on day four, it meant India were the only side capable of winning the match – a prospect that suddenly emerged as the most likely outcome. It wasn't to be, but Pujara's performance will live long in the memory.

Handscomb, Marsh force decider

Third Test, Day Five

The situation of the match: India were raging hot favourites to take a 2-1 series lead when skipper Steve Smith was dismissed early on the fifth morning in Ranchi, leaving Australia four wickets down and still 89 runs behind on a surface that was playing plenty of tricks.

What happened: Momentum was firmly with India, but Shaun Marsh and Peter Handscomb ground them down over more than 62 overs of patient, hard-fought batting to secure a draw and ensure all would go on the line in Dharamsala. The duo scored at less than two an over during their union until Marsh was finally dismissed for 53, but the result was all but secure by the time a wicket fell.

The outcome: India's breakthrough came far too late to force a result meaning both teams headed to the mountains with the series still locked at one-all.

Saha's life, Jadeja's flourish

Fourth Test, Day Three

The situation of the match: Chasing Australia's middling total of 300, India were on the back foot when Jadeja strode to the crease late on the second evening with six wickets down and still 79 in arrears.

What happened: Six down at stumps on day two should have been seven down when Saha edged Pat Cummins to Matt Renshaw at first slip late in the day, but the youngster spilled the chance to give the in-form keeper-batsman a life. Then, having helped to reduce the deficit early on the third morning, Jadeja went on the attack with four sixes and four fours before he ultimately chopped on for 63 when the score was 317. Saha eventually fell for a patient 31, their 96-run partnership helping to push India to a total of 332.

The outcome: Not only did Jadeja and Saha help the give the hosts a moral advantage over the Australians, a vital lead of 32 was only enhanced when Australia lost their top three before the deficit had been wiped out. It was the beginning of the end for the Aussies, who were routed for just 137 as the hosts cruised to victory.

Triple strike triggers collapse

Fourth Test, Day Three

The situation of the match: Australia had been on track to take a first-innings lead, but a deficit of just 32 was hardly insurmountable given India needed to bat last on a surface that was beginning to play some tricks.

What happened: A fiery spell of fast bowling from Umesh Yadav and Bhuvneshwar Kumar helped to shake up and then rip through Australia's top three before they had moved back into the lead. Umesh continued his impressive series by having both openers caught behind before Kumar got the big breakthrough, inducing an inside edge from batting star Smith that clattered into his stumps.

The outcome: The early collapse spelled imminent disaster for Australia, who crumbled to 137 all out to leave India just 106 to win, a victory target that was never going to be enough.