Rahul Dravid admitted his side never saw such a horrible loss coming.

Having taken the first Test to five days, been in a winning position when the second Test was washed out and entered the third with high hopes of levelling the series, India suffered its biggest ever runs loss to an Australian team that produced almost the perfect four days of cricket.

Australia's 342-run margin eclipsed its previous record of 300 at the WACA Ground in Perth in 1991/92.

"There is no doubt they outplayed us," said Dravid, the Indian captain.

"Australia have played very good cricket in all three Tests.

"The conditions here in Nagpur probably suited them more than us, but it has to be said Australia adapted better at both Bangalore and Chennai as well.

"They have been to India quite a few times in the last few years and have gotten to know the conditions well.

"The result was certainly not what we had expected. But we were beaten by a better team."

The next Test starts at Mumbai on Wednesday.

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