SK Flashback: India defeat Australia 4-0 for the first time in a Test series

One of the most intense rivalries in the history of Test cricket exists between India and Australia. The contest between the two goes back to the season of 1947-48 when India traveled Down Under for a 5-Test series. The initial years were heavily dominated by the Aussies as they won six out of the seven series.

The competition between the countries was named the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in the year 1996. Since then, India have won it six times and Australia, five.

Australia had whitewashed the subcontinent side 4-0 while playing in their own backyard in 1967-68.

India, on the other hand, had never managed to do so until Australia’s tour to India in 2013. Led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the Indian team inflicted a 4-0 thrashing on their arch rivals. Here is a recap of the epic series.

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First Test: Dhoni’s maiden double ton leads the way

Australia won the all important toss in Chennai and a magnificent century from their skipper Michael Clarke supported by a fifty from Moises Henriques helped them amass a sizeable total of 380 in the first innings. Ravichandran Ashwin was the pick of the bowlers as he picked up seven wickets for 103 runs.

India hit back strongly with Sachin Tendulkar scoring 81 and Virat Kohli notching up 107. But it was all about Dhoni as he powered his way to his first double hundred in Tests. He scored 224 off 365 balls and took India to 572, gaining a lead of 192 runs. James Pattinson was the only effective bowler as he bagged a fifer.

Australia’s second innings never got going as they lost wickets at regular intervals. Ashwin picked up five wickets to make it 12 in the match as the visitors were restricted to 241. Henriques got his second fifty in the match and remained unbeaten on 81.

India, having to chase 50 runs to win the game, lost two wickets for 36. Tendulkar, though, smashed two sixes off the first two balls Nathan Lyon bowled and India won the match comfortably by eight wickets to go one up in the series.

Second Test: Pujara, Vijay punish the Aussies

Pujara was flawless on his way to a double century

In Hyderabad, Australia won their second toss in a row and batted first once more. Barring skipper Clarke and the keeper Matthew Wade, no one spent time at the crease. The spinners Jadeja, Harbhajan and Ashwin accounted for a combined six wickets as Australia were bundled out for 237.

India were magnificent with the bat once again as they amassed 503 runs. It was Cheteshwar Pujara this time who scored a double century. Murali Vijay was the other stand out batsman who got 167 runs as the duo added 370 runs for the second wicket. Glenn Maxwell, who then played as a spinner in the team, took four wickets.

Australia trailed by 266 runs to begin their second innings and Ashwin ran all over them yet again. He picked up his third five-wicket haul in the series as the batsmen surrendered for a meagre 131. India won the match by an innings and 135 runs.

Third Test: Dhawan’s assault blows Australia away

Dhawan announced his arrival in style

The saga moved to Mohali where the visitors once again batted first after winning the toss. They put on their best show with the bat as they made 408 runs courtesy half-centuries from Ed Cowan, David Warner, Steven Smith and Mitchell Starc. Ishant Sharma was India's best bowler and grabbed three wickets on a batting-friendly pitch.

Shikhar Dhawan then announced his arrival in international cricket as he blasted the fastest century by a debutant, scoring 187 runs off just 174 balls. VIjay got his second hundred of the series as he scored 153. Kohli too got a fifty as India went past the Australian score and ended up with 499. Peter Siddle was pretty effective with the ball and grabbed a fifer.

It was the same old story again for the Kangaroos as they were bowled out for 223 in the second innings. Phil Hughes was the only batsman to cross 50. A combined bowling effort from India meant that they had their noses in front going into the chase.

The target for India in the fourth innings was 133 and despite losing four wickets, they got there rather comfortably. The debutant Dhawan was adjudged the Man of the Match.

Fourth Test: Ashwin, Jadeja inflict a whitewash

Ashwin picked up the Man of the Series award

The action shifted to Delhi where Clarke called correctly once more but unfortunately it was the only thing he won on the whole tour. They were bundled out for 262 with Siddle being the leading scorer with 51 runs. Ashwin once again picked up five wickets in an innings.

India got off to a superb start with a 108-run opening stand between Vijay and Pujara as both of them got to their fifties. Lyon then troubled the Indian batsmen and picked up seven wickets to halt their charge and restrict them to 272.

However, the visitors once again failed to strengthen their position as the batsmen continued their dismal showing. Siddle got his second fifty in the match and was once more the highest scorer. It was Jadeja this time who picked up five wickets.

India needed 155 runs to win the match and a wonderful unbeaten 82 from Pujara ensured they reached there without too much fuss. The hosts won by four wickets and completed an emphatic 4-0 whitewash for the first time in their history. Ashwin was the Man of the Series for taking 29 wickets in four matches.