When India toppled the invincible Australians in 2001
What's the story
At a time when match-fixing was culminating in Indian cricket, a new Team India took rise under Sourav Ganguly. The mighty Australians arrived in India for a three-match Test series, on the back of 15 consecutive victories. After losing the first Test at Wankhede, India staged a memorable comeback in the series. Let us look at the iconic moments of the Test series.
The Turbanator
Harbhajan Singh destroyed the Australian batting
Harbhajan Singh laid that the foundation of India's famous Test victory at the Eden Gardens. Batting first, Australia looked solid at 252/4 when the ferocious spinner claimed a historic hat-trick by dismissing Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist and Shane Warne. He became the first ever Indian to take a Test hat-trick and claimed 13 scalps in the match. India later sealed a miraculous victory.
Trailblazers
When Dravid and Laxman snatched victory from jaws of defeat
In the second Test, India were reeling big time after Australia racked up 445 in the first innings. Having bundled out India for 171, the visitors enforced a follow-on. The scoreboard read 232/4 in the second innings before VVS Laxman (281) and Rahul Dravid (180) drove India past 600. The 376-run stand changed the dynamics of Indian cricket for years to come.
Tendulkar special
Sachin delivered a match-winning spell in the second innings
Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar did not do much with the bat in this Test. However, his golden leggies did the trick for India in the second innings. Skipper Sourav Ganguly handed the ball to Sachin, who lived up to the expectations. Sachin dismissed the dangerous Matthew Hayden and Adam Gilchirst in two consecutive overs. He snapped up three wickets in the innings.
Quote
India win Test despite following on
India are the only side except England to have won a Test after having a follow-on enforced. England have reached the milestone twice (in 1894 and 1981). However, India's margin of victory was the biggest out of the three games.
Grand Finale
India scripted history at Chepauk by beating Australia 2-1
Harbhajan Singh yet again proved his mettle, taking as many as 15 wickets in the series finale at Chepauk. Sachin Tendulkar too scored a patient ton (126 off 230) in the first innings, which sailed India past 500. While Australia earlier put up 391, they could muster only 264 in the second innings. Chasing a modest 155, India won the thriller by two wickets.
Do you know?
Australia won 16 consecutive Tests before Eden Gardens clash
From October 1999 to October 2008, Australia lost only two Test series. India defeated them in 2001, while they were trounced in the Ashes 2005. Before the Eden Gardens Test in 2001, Australia were undefeated in 18 Tests, having won 16 of them.