According to Reuters, in keeping with a pulsating series where momentum swung back and forth by the session, the fifth test remained on a knife edge until the final hour when Australia eased to a six-wicket triumph.

The win in front of a packed house at a Sydney Cricket Ground bathed in pink for Glenn McGrath s cancer charity also ensured Australia will defend their World Test Championship title against South Africa at Lord s in June.

"It felt like it was kind of seesawing throughout the whole series so to finish it 3-1, to hold the trophy, is an amazing feeling," said Australia skipper Pat Cummins.

"I m immensely proud, I absolutely love playing with these guys and it s been a lot of fun along the way as well."

The match had been played on fast forward over the first two days with 15 wickets falling on Saturday, and Australia removed four more in the first hour on a sunny Sunday morning to dismiss India for 157.

In the absence of Player of the Series Bumrah, his fellow pace bowlers Prasidh Krishna and Mohammed Siraj kept Australian nerves on edge by removing four top-order batters on the spicy wicket.

Krishna sent back opener Sam Konstas for 22, Marnus Labuschagne for six and Steve Smith for four before lunch, while Usman Khawaja was caught behind off Siraj for 41 after the break to leave Australia on 104-4.

Smith was particularly forlorn as he trudged back to the dressing room on 9,999 career runs, having been dismissed one run shy of becoming the fourth Australian to pass the 10,000-run milestone.

Head, who scored 34 not out, and Webster, who was unbeaten on 39, got the job done, however, the latter continuing his nerveless debut by clubbing the winning runs with a straight four.

"It was a little frustrating but sometimes you have to respect your body," said Bumrah, who took 32 wickets over the five matches before the back spasms struck on Saturday.