5 greatest comebacks in Indian cricket

2. India v/s Australia (First Test, 2010-11 Border Gavaskar Trophy, Mohali)

This game had all the makings of a classic Test match, one that shall stand the ravages of time and be forever immortalized in the memories of many.

Bolstered by a century from all-rounder Shane Watson and crucial knocks by skipper Ricky Ponting, wicket-keeper Tim Paine and pace bowler Mitchell Johnson, Australia gained a slender lead despite gritty contributions from Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Suresh Raina.

Ishant Sharma led the charge in the second innings, troubling Ponting with his swing, and Australia eventually ended up setting a target of 216 to win. Late in the fourth day, Ben Hilfenhaus left the hosts reeling at 55/4, with Tendulkar and night-watchman Zaheer Khan at the crease.

The wickets kept falling on the final day, and India soon found themselves gasping at 124/8, with the injured VVS Laxman valiantly holding the fort as he was joined by Ishant for the ninth wicket.

After lunch came the turnaround. Laxman was happy to give his younger partner the strike, and Ishant responded with a solid defence, managing to score a few boundaries in almost every over. The pair fended off every Aussie bowler, rotating the strike and steadily chipping away at the target.

A twist in the tale occurred when Hilfenhaus won an LBW decision over Sharma, leaving the Indians nine down with 11 more to get. Pragyan Ojha was fortunate enough to survive a similar fate off Mitchell Johnson, and Steve Smith’s attempted direct hit to run him out resulted in four overthrows, getting the Indians closer to the target.

Eventually, Johnson blinked, sending a delivery down the leg side. Ojha nudged it past the diving Paine and ran the two runs needed to complete a magnificent win. Once again, Laxman had proved to be the bane of the Aussies, as India secured a 1-0 lead and won the next game at Bangalore to take the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.