5 matches where India showcased their true potential

#1 India vs Australia, Kolkata Test 2001

VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid Played exceptionally.

Just one year after Sourav Ganguly was given captaincy of India cricket team, he lead India to one of the most amazing victories for India. There have been only 3 matches where a team was forced to follow on and they went on to win the match, and this match was one of those 3.

Australia piled on runs

Australia started the match with a good opening partnership between Matthew Hayden and Michael Slater of 103. Matthew Hayden missed his hundred by 3 runs and was sent back to the dugout by the pick of the bowler for India, Harbhajan Singh. Later Steve Waugh continued the flow of runs and got his well-deserved hundred on the 2nd day of the test. Harbhajan Singh took 7 wickets for 123 runs and it consisted of a hat-trick.

India could not survive for long

Indian openers came to the ground trailing by 445 runs, and start for them was not good. No other batsmen apart from VVS Laxman scored fifty and India were all out for mere 171 runs in the first inning. Glenn Mcgrath picked up 4 wickets and India were still trailing Australia by 274 runs. Australia decided to force India for follow-on.

Both VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid became 'Walls'

Indian players showed intent in the second inning. India's first wicket partnership was 52 in comparison to 0 in the first inning, but it was the pair of VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid that made all the difference in the match. Soon India surpassed Australia's first inning score and started heaping on the lead. Laxman and Dravid played for more than a day to make sure India gives Australia a good target.

Australia fell well short of the target

Australia came to bat on day 5 of the test and was chasing a target of 445. Australia was thinking of a draw but Indians were there to accept nothing less than a win. After a good first wicket partnership, Australia kept on losing wickets. Harbhajan Singh along with part-time bowler Sachin Tendulkar made things hard for Australia. 'The Terminator' went on to take 6 wickets in the second inning.

VVS Laxman played two very patient innings in the match and claimed man of the match, on the other hand, players like Rahul Dravid, Harbhajan Singh and Sachin Tendulkar played key roles in one of India's amazing victories.