- Australia smashed a massive 445 in the first inning
- In reply, India managed to score 171 and a follow on was imposed
- The hosts piled up 657 runs and the Kangaroos lost the match
March 14, 2001, marks one of India’s greatest comebacks in Test cricket history. Australia was on a tour of India to play a series of three Tests and four ODIs. While the visitors had won the first Test with absolute dominance, the second Test also looked going in their favour.
Australia had won the toss and chose to take the 22 yards first. The first inning very much belonged to them as Steve Waugh’s ton and Mathew Hayden’s 97 positioned them at 445 and if it wasn’t for Harbhajan Singh’s 7 wicket-haul, the Aussies would’ve been unstoppable.
India’s second inning comprised of just disappointment. So much that the entire team collapsed on 171 runs and a follow-on was enforced. But what the men in yellow did not know was that the enforcement would result in their severe defeat. VVS Laxman who fell on 59 in the first round smashed a massive 281 runs and along with 180 from Rahul Dravid, India piled up 657 runs on the fourth day.
The Kangaroos were suddenly chasing 384 and they had only one day to do that. Mathew Hayden and Michael Slater put on an opening effort but Harbhajan’s masterful off-break deliveries claimed six scalps and three from Sachin Tendulkar paved the end of the Australian side on day 5. A losing India was given a new life and with another win in the third Test match, India went on to claim a 2-1 series win against the visitors.
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