5 memorable Indian Test wins against Australia

#2 Kolkata 2001

One of India’s greatest victories was against the Aussies in Kolkata in 2001

Few young Indian fans would be aware of India’s epic comeback in the 1981 Test against Australia at Melbourne Cricket Ground; the rest think of the Eden Gardens victory in 2001 when one talks about India’s comebacks in Tests.

The Test is cherished for the historic 376-run stand of VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid that brought India back into the game. Australia posted a massive total of 445, courtesy of Matthew Hayden’s 97 and Steve Waugh’s 110, before Glenn McGrath and co. bowled the Indians out for a mere 171. The follow-on was enforced and India came out to bat again.

India had lost the opening Test at Mumbai and was well on its way to trail 0-2. But Dravid and Laxman had other ideas for Waugh and his boys. Laxman became the first Indian to go past 250 runs in a Test innings and eventually was dismissed for 281 while Dravid scored 180. On the final day, Australia was given a target of 384 runs, and in a major turnaround in the match, Harbhajan Singh’s 6-fer along with Sachin Tendulkar’s three wickets helped India win the match by 171 runs.