Before the start of their international home season a month and a half back, India needed six victories in ten Tests to guarantee their place in the final of the World Test Championship for a third successive time.

With five of those scheduled at home, it was widely believed that by the time they embarked for Australia, they would need one, or at best two, wins to secure a berth in the title round on their own steam, a belief that was solidified after the 2-0 rout of Bangladesh.