#4 Sending a strong message, Perth (2008)
A tour that had begun in a disappointing fashion threatened to take a turn for the worse following the infamous Monkey Gate scandal. Having been on the receiving end of several dubious umpiring decisions during the Sydney Test, there were calls for the Indian team to return home in protest.
At a time when strong leadership was badly needed to steady the ship, Anil Kumble awakened the dressing room’s spirit and persuaded his troops to channel their frustration in the right direction. With Australia on a 16-match winning streak, he decided to bat first on a quick surface at the fabled WACA in Perth.
Senior batsmen Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar answered his call by leading them to a 300 plus first-innings total. In what was a bolt out of the blue, India’s seamers managed to shake a solid Australian lineup with a collective display.
VVS Laxman showed his tenacity yet again by playing a key role in setting a daunting target for the hosts. When a 19-year old Ishant Sharma tormented Ricky Ponting with a high voltage spell, the Indians never looked back and galloped to a glorious victory at a venue known for its pace/bounce.
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