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IND vs AUS: Five most memorable matches from Border-Gavaskar Trophy
India is set to host Australia for a four-match Test Series beginning on February 9th.
India is set to host Australia for a four-match Test Series beginning on February 9th. The Border-Gavaskar Trophy always brings out the best players from both countries because the stakes are always high. While the two teams prepare for the all-important series, let us turn back time and look at some of the best encounters between India and Australia. In this article, we will look at some of the most memorable matches from the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
#5 Mohali Test- 2010
Border-Gavaskar Trophy (Source: Twitter)
India was 124/8 at one point in the 2010 Test match at Mohali, needing 216 to win. Ishant Sharma then came in, batted for 92 deliveries, and helped India secure a crucial ninth wicket stand. Before leaving the field with 11 runs left to be scored, Ishant had scored 31 runs. Raina was running for Laxman as he battled an injury.
A typically composed Laxman lost his composure in the tense final moments of the game and yelled at his batting partner and the runner for taking a risky single. Ojha, the number 11 batsman who is not well known for his batting prowess, managed to put the bat on the ball in the final moments, and India scored two runs in an exciting victory.
#4 Kolkata Test- 2001
Border-Gavaskar Trophy (Source: Twitter)
The Eden Gardens Test against Australia will go down as one of the pinnacles of Indian Test cricket. In the home series in 2000–01, India was down 0–1. Australia took a commanding lead at Eden Gardens by bundling India out for just 171 runs in the first innings. Then, after asking the Indians to take follow on, the visitors were astounded by what happened.
A record 376-run partnership between VVS Laxman (281) and Rahul Dravid (180) for the fifth wicket put the Australians on the back foot. Australians were bowled out for just 212 while chasing 384 to win thanks to the bowling attack led by Harbhajan Singh, who took 13 wickets overall, including 7 in the first innings and 6 in the second. India won the series by defeating Australia in the third test at Chennai.
#3 Perth Test- 2008
Border-Gavaskar Trophy (Source: Twitter)
The historic Test only lasted four days, but session after session saw the momentum shift from one team to the other. The Anil-Kumble-led team battled back to hurt the hosts and make the series 2-1 going into the final Test after falling behind 0-2 in the series. At the time, no team had defeated the Australians at the WACA in Perth for more than ten years.
Moreover, this was India’s first victory in Australia in more than four years. It was made even more special for the Indian team and fans because the Test victory in Perth came immediately after the SCG Test, which was dogged by numerous controversies, including the infamous Monkey Gate episode.
#2 Adelaide Test- 2021
Border-Gavaskar Trophy (Source: Twitter)
India scored 36 in the second innings of a very forgettable match, their lowest Test score ever. Additionally, nobody could have predicted what occurred after this Test, as an injured Indian team defeated Australia in two Test matches to win the series 2-1. On that tour, Adelaide will be remembered as the starting point of a historic journey.
India scored 244 runs in their first innings before bowling the Australians out for just 191 runs to take a commanding lead. Then, however, the unthinkable occurred as India’s second innings was dismissed for just 36 runs. Australia won and took a 1-0 lead by chasing down the small target on the third day. Indian team members were taught by head coach Ravi Shastri to accept 36 all-out as a badge of honour and rise to the occasion.
#1 Gabba Test- 2021
Border-Gavaskar Trophy (Source: Twitter)
There were many heated exchanges between Indian and Australian players during this tour in 2020–21. Tim Paine, the former captain of Australia, even forewarned R Ashwin about short stuff being bowled at Indians on the bouncy Gabba pitch before the fourth and final Test. Australia used to proudly refer to the Gabba as their “Fortress” because they had not lost a Test match there in 32 years.
To win the match and the series, India’s Rishabh Pant-led batting unit chased down 328 just before Day 5’s stumps. With Pant scoring an unbeaten 89, the Gabba Fortress was breached. India won the series and returned home with a Title defence.
