India beat Australia by one wicket in the series-opening cricket Test in Mohali to go 1-0 up in the two-match contest.
VVS Laxman, batting with a back injury, top scored with 73 not out to help guide India to 216-9 on the final day after Australia set the home team 216 to win. It was the fourth- highest successful run chase in Tests in India.
Laxman shared an 81-run partnership with Ishant Sharma after India, which resumed at 55-4, had slumped to 124-8.
The victory guaranteed India, the No. 1-ranked Test team, will retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy contested by the two countries because it can’t lose the series. The second Test starts Oct. 9 in Bangalore.
If Australia loses the two-match contest, it will fall one place to fifth in the International Cricket Council’s rankings and begin the Ashes series ranked lower than England.
