Dhawan's awe-inspiring ton helps India clinch series

Debutant Shikhar Dhawan's awe-inspiring 187 from 174 balls helped India beat Australia by six wickets in Mohali and take a 3-0 lead in the series.

India's openers set about chasing Australia's 408 runs in a contrasting manner. While Dhawan attacked from the start, his partner Murali Vijay took a more cautious approach. The plan worked as they put on a 289-run stand, which was the highest ever opening partnership in India-Australia Tests, surpassing the previous best of 217 scored by David Boon and Geoff Marsh in 1986.

Australia's bowlers, already low on confidence, had no answers to Dhawan's onslaught. He took just 85 balls to reach three figures, the fastest century on Test debut, surpassing Dwayne Smith, who had scored a 93-ball century against South Africa in 2003.

Dhawan was most savage through cover, piercing gaps no matter how many fielders Michael Clarke employed to patrol the region. He scored 144 of his 187 runs in boundaries (77%).

Dhawan, who played 81 first-class matches before getting his Test cap, ensured he drove home the advantage for India by remaining unbeaten on 185 on day three. Vijay constructed another innings entirely suitable to the occasion by remaining unbeaten on 83 on the day.

Dhawan added just two to his tally on day four before edging Nathan Lyon to Ed Cowan at silly point. But his innings had ensured India gave a fitting reply to Australia's first-innings total. Following his departure, Vijay scored his third Test hundred before being dismissed on 153. India took a 91-run first innings lead.

"I wasn't really playing in a hurry," Dhawan said. "The fours were coming on their own after the ball hit the bat. But I guess I was in good flow today. I felt my shot selection was good and I played according to how I'd assessed the wicket. I didn't feel that I rushed things. There was no strategy, I was hitting the ball well, I was middling the ball very nicely and the runs came on their own. My only focus was that I'd play the ball on merit."

He admitted to being nervous, remembering his ODI debut against Australia on October 20, 2010, where he was bowled by Clink McKay off the second ball he faced. "This time I was nervous, that it was again Australia on my Test debut, because I'd scored zero then. But everything went well and I was really happy that I grabbed this opportunity and scored a century... It was a very satisfying feeling." Dhawan won the Man-of-the-match award for his innings.