There seldom exists such hype for a test series in a World Cup year that BGT creates, and the hype is justified. The Border Gavaskar Trophy has never disappointed in terms of excitement and thrill. There is no better advertisement for test cricket than the BGT, surpassing the Ashes in terms of the quality of cricket on display.
The First Part of this Blogging Series: Top 5 Stories of Indian Defiance in Last Decade – I
As we continue our countdown for the TOP 5 moments of defiance in the Border Gavaskar Trophy, let me dig into why these test matches made the list. Firstly, every match mentioned has impacted the game, stretching beyond the scoreline. We can draw many parallels between sports and life, and the lessons learned from these games will outlive the players, as well as the storytellers who best describe it. So carry on reading to reminisce about some more magical encounters.
BGT #3: Adelaide 2014
Adelaide 2014 was, in many ways, the start of an era. We saw glimpses of brilliance from individuals who would go on to dominate the 5-day format over the next 5-7 years. That victory in Adelaide was very special to the Aussies. Their teammate Phil Hughes had passed away a couple of weeks ago after being hit by a bouncer at the back of his head. The following week was no less than an emotional rollercoaster.
Cricket had received a significant setback. This test match helped bring back normalcy to a terrorized fraternity. The heat of the battle ensured the wounds of their brother’s loss were shadowed by a zeal to dominate. A closely contested India-Australia test match is precisely what the world needed to heal.
The Plot
First Innings:
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Australia:
- The test match began as a run-fest, with Australia piling up 517 in their first innings. Big hundreds from Steve Smith, David Warner, and Micheal Clarke made sure the Indian batsman had a massive task at hand.
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India:
- The Indian reply was led by their stand-in skipper Virat Kohli‘s second ton at the Adelaide Oval. Contributions from the rest of the batting lineup meant India had cut the deficit off to a large extent.
Second Innings:
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Australia:
- Australia piled onto their small lead with another relatively quick innings, led by David Warner, who registered his second ton of the match. This is where the action began. An overnight declaration from the Aussies meant they decided to dangle the meat in front of a young lion, and boy did the lion roar.
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India:
- Virat Kohli had made it clear that the Indians would go after anything the Aussies set for them, and the Delhi lad walked the talk. A fourth innings hundred for the ages, ably supported by Murali Vijay, who missed his milestone by just a run.
- The Indians were well on a course toward victory, and that’s when the Aussies decided it was their turn to wield some magic. It was Nathan Lyon‘s turn to remind his countrymen of another wily old leggie of the past. He picked up 7 wickets on the final day, derailing India’s chase and denying Virat Kohli a victory in his first test as captain.
What makes this BGT test match all the more special is it marks the beginning of the Kohli-way of playing test cricket, which changed the perception of the longest format in the coming years. In the years before, test matches’ relevance came under scrutiny. The younger generation was more attracted to the glitz and glamour of the IPL, and the longest format had to be content with the attention of the purists. On that day in Adelaide, and every day since, the poster boy of Indian cricket has carried the mantle of reviving test cricket.
BGT #2: Mohali 2010
An animated VVS Laxman shouting, waving his hands, and doing all sorts of antics is a sight no one can ever forget. Poor Pragyan Ojha was at the receiving end of this exchange. Losing his temper is not something you associate with VVS Laxman, but such was the magnanimity of the occasion. This contest is the closest test match on the list, rippling nerves throughout both nations.
The Plot
First Innings:
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Australia:
- Australia started the test match well by putting up a strong performance in the first innings of the tour. A century from Shane Watson, supported by contributions from Ricky Ponting and Tim Paine, propelled the Aussies to a total of 428. Zaheer Khan was a standout performer with the ball picking up 5 wickets.
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India:
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- VVS Laxman’s sore back depleted the Indian batting. But significant contributions from Dravid, Tendulkar, and Raina meant India only had a deficit of 23 runs by the end of their first innings.
Second Innings:
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Australia:
- The Aussie reply began well, but regular strikes from the Indian bowlers derailed their innings. They ended their innings by scoring 192 runs and set India a target of 216.
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India :
- Ben Hilfenhaus and Doug Bollinger destroyed the Indian chase, reducing them to 124-8. With another 92 runs in the bank, the Aussies were clear favorites to take a 1-0 lead in the series. Ishant Sharma now joined VVS Laxman on the crease.
- VVS Laxman, who had a sore back, was operating with a runner. The pair then went on to stitch together an 81-run stand, with Ishant Sharma showing great temperament.
- The last pair now had to get 11 more runs, and that’s when the tension was unbearable. Even a cool customer like VVS Laxman showed his raw emotions that evening. Ultimately, an overthrow and a leg bye stole it for the hosts.
The scenes in Mohali were insane; the crowd erupted in joy and bowed down in respect of a wounded warrior who chose not to give up. VVS Laxman has constantly tormented the Aussies, and we saw another chapter of this Very Very Special saga that evening. The emotions on display that evening are a testament to a test victory’s value, more so by the barest of all margins.
Ricky Ponting was unfortunately on the wrong side of the result, still searching for his maiden test win in India. But that didn’t matter to a billion people celebrating another scintillating performance from the king of the 5th day, and a Very Very Special one indeed.
BGT #1: Gabba 2021
“See you at the Gabba”: Ravichandran Ashwin was at the receiving end of this infamous sledge by Australian skipper Tim Paine. This is exactly where the magical Gabba story started taking a shape. After pulling off a DEFIANT performance at the SCG, a much bigger challenge awaited India – THE FORTRESS GABBA. The first task stand-in skipper Ajinkya Rahane had was to bring 11 fit Indian players on the field. Only two players from the playing XI of the first test were available at Gabba, including himself. All of India’s frontline bowlers were injured.
To put things in perspective, T Natrajan and Washington Sundar, who traveled with the team as net bowlers, were given their maiden test caps. Navdeep Saini and Mohammed Siraj had slightly more experience, having made their debut earlier in the series. Shardul Thakur, who had 10 deliveries of test match experience under his belt, capped off the Indian bowling. The second challenge was to breach a fortress unconquered for 32 years. Australian team prided themselves on outclassing any team at the Gabba, which prompted Tim Paine to subtly warn Ashwin as if he was spoiling what was to transpire.
The Plot
First Innings:
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Australia:
- Batting first, Australia posted a decent score of 369 powered by Marnus Labushagne‘s hundred and some valuable middle-order contributions. The young Indian bowling attack kept chipping away with wickets at regular stages.
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India:
- The Indian reply began well, with many of the top 7 getting good starts. The Aussies, however, made sure none of them went on to make a significant contribution, thus reducing India to 186-6.
- What followed was a partnership that would be a part of cricketing folklore for generations. Shardul Thakur and Washington Sundar, with a combined experience of 1 test match, stitched together a 123-run stand for the 7th wicket. The duo played some jaw-dropping shots against Cummins and Lyon. Indians back home celebrated every run on their television sets, and by the end of the innings, India had managed to crawl up to the Aussie score.
Second Innings:
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Australia:
- The Aussies were taken aback by the wagging of the Indian lower order but showed no signs of being on the back foot. A strong start followed by handy contributions from the middle order means Australia amassed a decent lead. The highlight of the second innings was Siraj, who bowled like the leader of the pack en route to picking up his first 5 wicket haul in test cricket. Australia set a target of 328 runs.
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India:
- Shubman Gill made his intent very clear from the get-go, and the chase was well and truly on. The sound of those cuts, pulls, and backfoot punches from Shubman’s willow was like a symphony to one’s ear. Pujara held fort at the other end, not allowing the Aussie bowlers any opening.
- These contrasting batting styles complimented each other superbly until Shubman Gill edged one to slip, ending his impactful innings. One body blow followed by another, screams of agony and pain; nothing could beat Pujara‘s resolve that afternoon. Soon a similar partnership followed between Pujara and Pant before Cummins ended Pujara’s stay at the crease.
- Pant‘s aggressive batting style meant India was never out of the game, and it came down to a limited-overs scenario at the closing stages of the day. Washington Sundar stepped up again, giving the much-needed push to the chase, starting with a hook shot to Pat Cummins for a six. The panic was evident in Aussie’s body language. They made the next 40 runs fairly simple for the Indians. It was fitting that Rishabh Pant hit the winning runs. A billion fans back home were overjoyed, to say the least.
One way to describe the Indian heist is “A Modern Day Rendition of David and Goliath”. This victory had contributions from every individual. An inexperienced side clawed its way up, taking every opportunity to script a fairytale ending. The positive mindset led to the manifestation of this fairytale. A draw was enough to retain the Border Gavaskar Trophy. However, the Indians were up to compete, not just show up.
We also witnessed how two very different styles of play could coexist and feed off each other, much like the existence of fire & ice together. Pujara held fort at one end, trying to remove the possibility of an Indian defeat. At the other end, Gill and Pant fed off the Aussie frustration to counterattack and put pressure. Neither of these approaches is better than the other; it’s the blend that was so heartening to watch.
From a neutral perspective, too, this was a punch-counterpunch sort of game. No team held the upper hand for longer than a session. All three results were possible even in the last 10 overs of the game. To see test cricket heading in this direction and India being at the forefront is a moment of pride for all their fans.
Next Chapter
The spotlight is well and truly on the Border Gavaskar Trophy. Cricket experts worldwide and fans alike eagerly await the first ball to be delivered. The series promises to be a worthy sequel to its predecessor. All eyes will be on Rohit Sharma, who is gearing up for his first major assignment as test captain.
There are several matchups to look forward to, Labuschagne against Ashwin, a returning Jadeja against Steve Smith, and finally, another chapter in the Lyon-Pujara saga. Virat Kohli would also want to announce his return to form in test cricket. There cannot be a bigger occasion than BGT. As we gear up to the clash of the Titans, feel free to share with us stories, anecdotes, and contests that made the Border Gavaskar Trophy memorable for you throughout the years.
We are always keen to listen to your Top 5 Indian defiance stories from the BGT history. Do share them in the Comments section, or write us at our Twitter handle: @CricBloggers.
This article is a captivating journey through some of the most memorable moments in Indian cricket history. It effectively conveys the significance and emotion of each match, from Adelaide 2014’s healing power to Mohali 2010’s raw intensity and Gabba 2021’s modern-day David and Goliath story. The writing is engaging, and the article successfully captures the essence of cricket’s ability to inspire and unite people. It also looks ahead to the future of the Border Gavaskar Trophy, creating anticipation for upcoming matches and inviting readers to share their own favorite defiance stories. A must-read for cricket enthusiasts and sports lovers. Thank you! It is a good read =)