Australia v India: Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli near exit as Pat Cummins stars in dramatic Melbourne Test win

Visitors lose seven wickets for 34 to lose by 184 runs as Pat Cummins's team take unassailable 2-1 series lead

India captain Rohit Sharma after being dismissed by Pat Cummins during day five of the fourth Test in Melbourne. Getty Images

Australia showed tremendous resolve to eke out a stunning victory over India in the final hour of the last day of the fourth Test against India in Melbourne to take an unassailable 2-1 lead in the series on Monday.

India seemed well on their way to securing a draw as they were cruising at 121-3, with opener Yashasvi Jaiswal (84) and wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant (30) barely troubled by the Aussie bowling in pursuit of a 340-run target.

However, Pant, who had restrained himself up until then, went after part-time spinner Travis Head and was caught near deep mid wicket. That dismissal triggered a sensational collapse as India were bowled out for 155 in a little over 20 additional overs.

They lost seven wickets for 34 runs, with the Australian bowlers extracting pace and also turn on an up-and-down Melbourne pitch.

Australia now can't lose the series and are well placed to secure a spot in the World Test Championship final. South Africa are the other side who have qualified for the final next year.

Seamer Scott Boland was the star of the day once again, picking up 3-39, with captain Pat Cummins enjoying a sensational Test as he snared 3-28 to go with his three-wicket haul in the first innings and critical knocks of 49 and 41.

Spinner Nathan Lyon dismissed Mohammad Siraj to complete the 184-run victory.

While Cummins had a match to remember, his counterpart Rohit Sharma, on the other hand, was dismissed for a single digit score once again while fellow out-of-form veteran Virat Kohli was caught behind the wicket driving for the umpteenth time.

The series is almost certainly the last in whites for Rohit, while Kohli is also unlikely to play Tests for India much longer.

There is growing speculation that one or both could retire soon from Tests matches, or could even be asked by the selectors to step aside.

In the morning session, captain Cummins struck twice in an over and left-arm quick Mitchell Starc dismissed Kohli cheaply once again after Australia were bowled out for 234.

Cummins ended a cautious 25-run stand between Jaiswal and Rohit when the latter edged straight to Marsh at gully.

Five balls later, Cummins had his second victim when KL Rahul, forced to bat at one down, edged to Usman Khawaja in the slips.

An under-pressure Kohli was out for five trying to drive Starc, edging to Khawaja in the slips. Kohli has been dismissed in almost exactly the same fashion throughout the tour, in what is a clear sign of an incurable flaw in his batting.

From there, Jaiswal and Pant steadied the ship. A result looked a long way away when India resumed on 112-3 after lunch, with both left-handers looking well set and Australia employing spin.

However, Pant, who batted with composure for over 100 balls, swung wildly at spinner Head to be caught in the deep by a sprinting Mitchell Marsh.

That ended a 88-run partnership and set panic in the Indian camp.

The relentless Boland then had Ravindra Jadeja caught behind for two with a ball that kicked off the pitch and found his edge.

First innings hero Nitish Kumar Reddy could not pull his team out of trouble as he edged spinner Lyon to Steve Smith at slip.

Then came a moment of huge controversy as Jaiswal pulled at a ball from Cummins, with the Aussies appealing and then reviewing for a caught behind.

Replays showed a clear deviation off the bat but there was no evidence of an edge on 'Ultra Edge' technology. The TV umpire, however, decided to overturn the decision based on visual evidence.

Jaiswal initially refused to leave the crease, which attracted jeers from the crowd.

Akash Deep was also dismissed in similar fashion, caught by Head off pacer Boland with a thin edge deflecting off his pads.

Tailenders Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj had shown application with the bat on previous occasions but crumbled under pressure. Both fell for ducks, with Lyon (2-37) securing victory with an hour remaining in play.

"Fantastic way to finish the week. I think it's been five days of fantastic cricket," Aussie pacer Starc said.

"There was always belief in the group. I think this has been a feature of this group for a number of years - this calmness and just go with the flow and adapt to what's thrown at us."

India captain Rohit said his team let the game slip away, especially in the second innings when they had the hosts tottering at 91-6 and allowed them to post 234.

"It's is pretty disappointing," said the opener. "It's not that we went with the intent of not putting up a fight. We wanted to fight till the end but unfortunately, couldn't do it.

"If you look at the overall Test match, we had our opportunities, we had our chances. We just didn't take them and we let Australia come back into the game when we had them 90 for six."