There are lots of battles fought on the sector of cricket however hardly any comes near the India vs Australia rivalry. Two fierce opponents and two nice rivals – India and Australia share a wonderful historical past in Check cricket, coupled with some controversial moments and jaw-dropping performances.
The wealthy historical past started in 1947/48 when India, underneath Lala Amarnath, toured Australia for a five-match sequence. Whereas it might have taken ages for India to register their first Check win (1959) and much more for a primary sequence win towards Australia (1979/80), they now rub shoulder-to-shoulder with the mighty Aussies even on the latter’s personal den.
Australia’s unbelievable dominance towards India within the twentieth century
Australia had been ridiculously dominant towards India within the twentieth century. They gained a jaw-dropping eight sequence out of 15 contested and misplaced solely three. The opposite 4 resulted in a draw. The Aussies gained seven Assessments earlier than dropping the primary recreation towards India in an away tour of 1959/60. The Aussie batters used to slam huge centuries and register complete wins towards India.
After the Aussies bagged three straight Check sequence in 1947/48, 1956/57 and 1959/60, it was in 1964/65 that India managed to attract a sequence towards them for the primary time. A well-known chapter in Indian cricket historical past arrived in 1977/78 when an Indian group gained a Check match in Australia for the primary time. Led by Sunil Gavaskar’s 118 within the Melbourne Check, India defeated the Aussies by 222 runs. That they had achieved one thing nice then.
However the look ahead to a sequence win was even longer. In 1979/80 when Aussies toured India for a six-match sequence, the Indian group led by Sunil Gavaskar, discovered sufficient inspiration to interrupt the Aussie jinx and register a 2-0 win in a six-match sequence. Iconic batter Gundappa Viswanath stood tall with the bat and made 518 within the sequence with two centuries.
Having proven glimpses of brilliance within the earlier Check sequence, the Indians managed to attract a three-match sequence at Australia’s residence in 1980/81 for the primary time. They then once more managed to attract a three-match sequence in 1985/86, this time a 0-0 draw. The Indians had come near successful a sequence in Australia after they requested the Aussies to comply with on within the third Check in Sydney. However the hosts escaped as they ensured a draw with 4 wickets in hand.
By the flip of the century, India had proven rather more bravery as they gained two extra sequence – one every in 1996/97 and 1997/98 however each at residence. The India vs Australia Check sequence bought a reputation on two of their biggest serving cricketers Sunil Gavaskar and Allan Border within the 1996/97 sequence, which India hosted.
India’s distinctive performances after the flip of the century
India can proudly say that they’ve turned the tables by the flip of the century. They’ve defeated the Aussies as many as eight instances in 13 sequence and have misplaced solely 4 of them.
VVS Laxman-Rahul Dravid’s unbelievable combat within the Kolkata 2001 Check, Sachin Tendulkar‘s Syndey masterclass the place he resisted from taking part in cowl drives throughout his 241, Virat Kohli‘s twin tons in Adelaide, or the epic sequence comeback in 2020/21, India’s performances have been a narrative to inform.
Their final two journeys to Australia are nothing in need of extraordinary. India had come shut just a few instances to successful a Check sequence in India however the jinx was lastly damaged when the Virat Kohli-led group created historical past in 2018/19 to win the sequence 2-1. Cheteshwar Pujara‘s batting masterclass and Jasprit Bumrah‘s magic with the ball, helped the Males in Blue lastly crack the Aussie code, doing what eluded the Indian greats. Whereas the Indian group was extremely sturdy in that sequence, the following one in 2020/21 was utterly on the flip facet.
A group that was bruised with harm points, getting shot out for 36 within the first Check, and shedding their skipper because of private causes after the opening match, got here again to register some of the epic comeback tales in modern-day cricket. The story which one can admire repeatedly and nonetheless really feel proud and honoured of what that group did again then.
The Kolkata Check of 2001 is among the biggest in Check cricket’s historical past. Not solely as a result of it was on a cricketing discipline. However for what it taught the widespread man – there may be all the time a second probability. A group like Australia was in a butcher mode, having gained 15 Assessments in a row getting into into the 2001 Border-Gavaskar sequence after which clinched the primary recreation in Mumbai.
That they had India on the mat after successful the primary Check after which implementing a follow-on in Kolkata. India had been in additional hassle as they misplaced 4 wickets within the follow-on however then got here a partnership between VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid that also resonates with the Indian followers.
With nonetheless 42 away from bringing Australia to bat once more, Laxman and Dravid crafted out a stand of 376 runs for the fifth wicket that helped India attain 657/7d. Batting like champions, Laxman scored 281, whereas Dravid made 180. The Aussies had been set a goal of 384 and so they had been bowled out for 212, giving India a win that’s actually unforgettable.
The upcoming India vs Australia Check sequence may provide us some jaw-dropping performances but once more and we’d fall in awe as these two are fierce opponents and have the hardest rivalry.