Interestingly, Test cricket is unpredictable in which teams rise and fall. But nothing touches people’s feelings like a team returning from a near-certain loss. Cricket in India is replete with such inspiring tales – where determination, tenacity, and the ability to fight it out swung the balance in India’s favour in some of the most memorable Test cricket wins. Here are a few of the most stunning victories of the Indian cricket team that must have stunned the spectators.
Kolkata 2001: The Miracle at Eden Gardens
If we talk of comebacks, no match is more famous than the Test match between India and Australia in 2001 at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata. After being forced to do so, India looked down the barrel of defeat. But the events that took place after that are beyond a mere miracle. VVS Laxman’s 281 and Rahul Dravid’s rock-steady 180 turned the heat on the Australian team. Combined, they struck right through the fourth day, taking India to a tremendous second-inning score.
Until the last day of the Test, Australians, who had been dominating the cricket, seemed to have buckled under the pressure of being bowled by Harbhajan Singh. India won by 171 runs, thus ending Australia’s 16-match winning streak and making it one of the most sensational turnarounds in cricket history. While some fans wait for moments like these with bated breath, for others, this is an exciting way to enjoy the game. When you select the best cricket betting sites in India, you are entertained and given the best chance at winning more money. Be careful when choosing the right platform to help you get the best experience.
Headingley 2002: A Complete Domination
The 2002 tour of England was one of the most famous comebacks in Test cricket. Although this preparation has historically been difficult for teams to overcome, India did the opposite during this Headingley encounter. Following this event, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, and Sourav Ganguly came out to bat on a seaming track and delivered great innings to set India a total of 628/8 declared.
India made the most of the opportunity, availing England two times and winning the match by an innings and 46 runs. This victory not only paid to the critics but also established the capability of the Indian team to perform well in testing foreign conditions. For such great moments and to avoid missing out on the best offers, subscribe to MelBet Facebook. Not only will you receive real-time news on sports, but if you are interested in betting, you will discover bonuses where you get the highest odds for the most profit!
Melbourne 2020: The Redemption After Adelaide
Australia, the favourites before the start of the series and having beaten India comprehensively in the recent Test series held at home, lost the 2020-21 series 2-1 to India. With India getting bundled out for a paltry 36 in the first Test in Adelaide, the Indian team was virtually dismissed by the critics. But coming back to form, under the calm captaincy of Ajinkya Rahane, the team made an impressive comeback by winning the Boxing Day Test match at Melbourne.
This was well underlined by Rahane’s hundred in the first Indian innings, which provided the foundation for the bowlers to come through. Rising stars Bumrah, Ashwin, and debutant Siraj were instrumental in tormenting the Australian batting order. India won the match by eight wickets, an astonishing triumph that paved the way for one of the most outstanding cricket series ever.
Johannesburg 2006: Towards the Emancipation of Black Women in South Africa
South Africa has always been difficult for teams to tour since the pitches are fast and the crowd hostile. However, in 2006, India had one of its best overseas performances at the Wanderers in Johannesburg. India regretted they could not post a big total and struggled to some extent against the South African side in the first innings due to Laxman’s fifty.
But Sreesanth’s fiery bowling turned the match decisively in India’s favour. He bowled out the South African batting order with the force of pace and swing and gave India a victory by 123 runs. This victory was important not just for the victory but for the fact that it dismantled an unseen belief that India could not play in South African conditions.
Gabba 2021: The Ultimate Test Victory
No one could have thought about how the series would be when India toured Australia in the 2020/21 tour. Following the disastrous failure in Adelaide, the team struggled, more so given that several of the significant performers suffered injuries during the series. However, the Indian team didn’t stop fighting, and the final standoff occurred in Brisbane at the Gabba – winning a Test match there for the first time in 32 years was possible.
Finally, with a very weak bench strength, India chased 328 on the last day, with Pant showing a lot of spirit. This win meant more than just winning the series; it meant that India is one of the best Test-playing countries in the world. The victory at the Gabba will always be etched in the history of Test cricket as one of the greatest ever, for the spirit India displayed in its gameplay.
Conclusion: Defining Moments That Shaped Indian Cricket
India’s best comebacks in Test cricket are not just wins; they are events that capture the side’s spirit. Of course, from the legendary victory at the Eden Gardens to the marvellous victory at the Gabba, these matches have become part of folklore in Indian cricket. It is not only the players they motivate but also the enthusiasts, the spectators—the whole lot of individuals to know that there is no hurdle you can’t conquer if you have the passion to battle till the last round.
