Recapping BGT heroics: When Dravid and Laxman did Kolkata 2001 encore in Adelaide

India and Australia are all set to revive one of the fiercest rivalries in international cricket in recent times as they’re set to lock horns in a five-match Test series beginning from November 22. As the two Test playing nations are about to script another golden chapter of their rivalry, let’s revisit one of India’s greatest wins in Australia.

This story dates back to the 2003-04 series down under where India were once again in a precarious position during the second Test in Adelaide being at 85/4 in reply to Australia’s massive score of 556. With India staring down the barrel, they turned to their seasoned saviours, who had already earned a reputation of bailing the team out of trouble with their heroic performances in Kolkata, 2001.

Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman were once again at the forefront of another Indian rescue act as they took on the Australian attack consisting of Andy Bichel, Jason Gillespie and Stuart MacGill. The duo took the team to stumps on Day 2 with an unbeaten 95-run stand and got themselves accustomed to the conditions.

Later on Day 3, after seeing off crucial spells from the seamers, Laxman and Dravid fought against the formidable bowling attack of the Australians with sheer tenacity and kept whittling away the deficit. In no time, the duo completed their respective hundreds in the second session and got India’s score past 350 sucking the juice out of the Australian bowling attack.

India won the match by four wickets

The duo forged a magnificent 303-run partnership for the fifth wicket to bring India back in the game. Laxman went on to score 148 while Dravid finished his innings on 233 to help India get to 523 in the first innings. Later in the second innings, despite having a 33-run lead, Australia were bundled out for just 196 in the second innings with Ajit Agarkar dismantling the hosts with figures of 6/41.

Set a target of 230 runs to win, India got contributions from their entire batting line up but Rahul Dravid once again stood tall with an unbeaten 72 and finished the game in style by cutting Stuart MacGill for a four.

As a result, the ‘wall’ of the Indian batting line up took his team home as India won the match by four wickets registering just their fourth Test win in Australia. Dravid was deservedly adjudged Player of the Match for his innings of 233 and 72 as India took a 1-0 lead for the first time in a Test series in Australia. The series was drawn 1-1 and Dravid was also adjudged Player of the series for scoring 619 runs from four matches.