5 most heroic Indian Test performances at the MCG

#3. Bhagwat Chandrasekhar’s 12-wicket haul gives India its first win in Australia

Bhagwat Chandrasekhar in action

The Indian national cricket team arrived on the Australian shores in 1977-78 with the hopes of a series win. The Australian team was stripped of its major players due to Kerry Packer’s parallel World Cricket Series. The full-strength Indian side faced what was at best the third layer of Australian cricket. Still, the hosts snatched a 2-0 lead after the first two Tests.

Choosing to bat first at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, India struggled at 0/2. Mohinder Amarnath and Gundappa Vishwanath rebuilt the innings and the visitors finished at 256 all out. In reply, Australia had reached 122/2, when Bhagwat Chandrasekhar weaved his web. He wrapped the Australian side for 213 and ended with the figures of 6/52.

Sunil Gavaskar found form in the second innings and thanks to his 118, India set Australia the target of 387. The pair of Bishan Singh Bedi and Bhagwat Chandrasekhar ran through the Aussies. Bedi took four wickets while Chandrasekhar repeated the figures of 6/52. The 222-run triumph was India’s first Test win in Australia.

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