Indias Epic Test Comebacks
India’s Test team was termed as tigers at home and lambs overseas. The team had a pretty skewed record overseas with almost zero wins during the 90s. India wasn’t taken seriously as a Test team even when they played at home against strong opponents. Pakistan had beaten India during the golden jubilee Test. South Africa had won the 2-match Test series 2-0 against India in India. The pride of the Indian cricket fan was always tested whenever India was up against a strong opposition. Let us look at Indias Epic Test Comebacks in detail.
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The start of something special:
Sourav Ganguly led India was taking baby steps in establishing itself as a force in the Test format. India promised much more in the early days but the results were always flattering. They lost the advantage of winning a series even in a place like Zimbabwe when they were held 1-1. The young team though was showing signs of improvement. India was about to face its toughest challenge yet. The series that started India’s run of epic Test comebacks.
We look at Indias epic Test wins in Kolkata and Adelaide:
#1 Kolkata – 2001:
It was the final frontier for Steve Waugh’s all-conquering Aussies. They had won 15 successive Tests before entering India. Aussies had sights firmly fixed on winning a Test series in India after having won way back in 1969. They did no harm to their bullish reputation in the first Test as they hammered India in Mumbai within 3 days. Their record streak extended to 16 Test wins. India was up against the odds for the rest of the series.
The first innings debacle:
Australia batted first winning an important toss. They went on to score 445 thanks to Matthew Hayden and Steve Waugh. Harbhajan Singh picked up a hat trick but couldn’t stop the Aussies from posting a huge score. India in reply scored just 171 in the first essay. VVS Laxman batting at number 6 scored a solitary fifty in what was a sorry response from the home team. Australia had no qualms in enforcing the follow-on. They had a lead of 274 runs!
The landmark at Eden:
India’s landmark second innings batting display changed many views regarding the game. The pair of VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid batted a whole day on day 4 without losing a wicket. They put on 376 runs to help India post a massive 657. India bowled Australia out within 2 innings to level the series 1-1. It was the comeback of epic proportions. Teams then on were skeptical of enforcing a follow-on. India’s win changed the dynamics of world cricket.
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#2 The encore at Adelaide:
India was the holder of the Border-Gavaskar trophy when they toured down under in 2003-04. The visiting side put up a spirited performance at Gabba, Brisbane drawing the game. Australia though made a terrific start to the second Test scoring 400 runs on the first day of the Test. India made a comeback of sorts bowling Australia out for 558. They stuttered in the reply though losing 4 wickets for just 85 runs.
The partnership broke new grounds yet again:
Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman once again put on a 300-run stand to take India close to Australia’s total. Dravid’s 233 helped India rake up 523 runs. India was 35 runs behind the Aussie total. It was a significant achievement in itself.
Ajit Agarkar then produced his finest hour in Tests bowling a spell of 6-41 to dismantle the Aussies. India won an epic Test as Dravid scored 72 not out in the fourth innings to take India 1-0 up in the series. It was India’s first win on Australian soil since 1981!
These two wins made India believe they could not just compete but win against the best in the business. Kolkata and Adelaide became part of Indian cricket’s rich folklore.
