9 memorable moments in Indian cricket that happened at Mohali

India kick-start the Test leg of their series against South Africa on November 5th with the first of the four matches scheduled to take place at the PCA Stadium in Mohali. India played their first Test at the venue in 1994 against the West Indies. They lost the match by 243 runs as the visitors were led by Jimmy Adams’s unbeaten 174 in the first innings and Kenny Benjamin’s 65/5 in the second innings.Over the last decade, the stadium has witnessed many a memorable moment in Indian cricket that have remained in the minds of every fan.Here are 9 memorable moments in Indian cricket that happened at the PCA Stadium.

#9 India steamroll Australia

MS Dhoni’s side registered a comprehensive victory

Australia came into the third Test of the 2013 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, with their backs clearly against the wall, having lost the opening two matches comprehensively. India had everything going their way and were looking to strangle the Australians further.

However, the visitors were in no mood to give in so easy and led by contributions from Ed Cowan, David Warner and Steven Smith posted a healthy 408 on the board in their first innings. In reply, Shikhar Dhawan and Murali Vijay laid an incredible platform for India, putting on 287 runs for the first wicket to seize the advantage back in the hosts favour. The former raced his way to the fastest ton by an Indian on debut. Vijay played his part, by scoring a hundred of his own. But the middle order couldn't quite come to the party after the pair went cheaply and India could manage only a lead of 81 runs,

In the second innings, Australia found themselves in trouble at 55 for 3 but Phillip Hughes ensured a collapse didn’t occur. But the visitors could only manage 223 and set India 133 for a win.

Thanks to contributions from the top four, India cruised their way to a 6-wicket win and took a 3-0 lead in the series.

#8 MS Dhoni wins first Test series at home as captain

MS Dhoni with the trophy after India’s Test series victory

After Anil Kumble had bid farewell to the game, MS Dhoni officially assumed charge of the Indian Cricket team in whites, in a two-match Test series, scheduled to be played in Chennai and Mohali.

The hosts clinched the opening Test at Chepauk, courtesy a stunning innings of 87 from Virender Sehwag first and then a masterful 103 not out from Sachin Tendulkar which helped India track down 397 runs in the fourth innings and take a 1-0 lead in the series.

When the teams arrived in Mohali, all eyes were on one man- Rahul Dravid.The right-hander was having a torrid time with the bat and the lack of scores from his blade had been a big cause of concern for him, the team and his fans.

However, true to his character, he displayed grit and determination and carved a patient yet much needed 136 as India reached 453. The Test match was happening in the month of December, which meant there would spells where bad light would come into play and it did.

But despite those phases, England put up 302 on the board, with skipper Kevin Pietersen scoring 144. With a 151-run lead, India scored a faster rate in the second innings to set the visitors a target of 403.

That chase though, was never on and they finished at 64 for 1 on the final day to give Dhoni his first series win as full time India captain.

#7 Munaf Patel bursts on to the scene

Munaf Patel burst on to the scene at Mohali

After Javagal Srinath had retired, India started their search for new fast bowler, who could run through opposition, literally on his own. Zaheer Khan seemed that guy, but in 2006, he lost his place in the side due to poor form.

But in walked a raw 22-year-old from Gujarat, who went by the name of Munaf Patel. He impressed one-and-all present at the venue with his pace, hitting the high 140's consistently. He finished with a match haul of 7 for 97 that included a spell of 4 for 25 in the second innings which eventually ensured India won the match by 9 wickets.

Unfortunately for Indian fans,that was one of the very few instances where Munaf used his pace as he converted himself into a line-and-length bowler after that.

#6 India\'s largest Test win in terms of runs

India celebrate their win at Mohali

After a draw in the opening Test at Bengaluru, India and Australia arrived in Mohali looking to take the upper hand in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Opting to bat first, India posted a competitive 469 in their first innings, thanks to a 102 from Sourav Ganguly and valuable contributions from Sachin Tendulkar and MS Dhoni.

In reply, Australia found themselves at 130 for 5 and looked set to give the hosts a massive lead. While Shane Watson and Mike Hussey tried their best to ensure that didn't happen, they only managed to delay the inevitable as India took a lead of 201 lead, after the visitors were bundled out for 268.

The second innings saw India declare at 314 for 3 with Gautam Gambhir scoring a ton, thereby setting Australia an improbable 516 for a win. Harbhajan Singh then took over as he ripped through the heart of the Australian batting order, leaving them in dire straits at 58 for 5.

Once the top order failed miserably, there was no way out for the Aussies as Zaheer Khan ran through the lower order and they were bowled out for 195, thereby handing India a 320-run win, which is still their largest victory in terms in terms of runs.

#5 Amit Mishra\'s long wait is over

Amit Mishra and MS Dhoni celebrate the dismissal of Michael Clarke

Amit Mishra made his international debut in a triangular series involving India, Bangladesh and South Africa in 2003 and made an immediate impression in the tournament. But with Anil Kumble enjoying an excellent second wind to his career, it meant that the others, including Mishra had to wait before they could get their turn,

In the end, the Haryana cricketer made his Test debut at the age of 26 against Australia in 2008 at PCA Stadium in Mohali, where he took a five-wicket haul in the first innings, which included a beauty to get rid off Michael Clarke. In the dying moments of Day two, skipper MS Dhoni asked Mishra to slide the googly from behind the stumps. Mishra followed his captain's instructions, came in between the umpire and the wicket and slid the googly in ,to trap Australia’s best player of spin in front. He finished with figures of 5 for 71 in the first essay

In the second innings he took two wickets, including the last one as India registered a thumping win.

#4 Yuvraj Singh dons the whites for the first time

Yuvraj Singh didn't have the best of Test debuts

Yuvraj Singh's maiden tryst with International cricket came at the ICC Knockout Trophy in Nairobi in 2000, but it took him three more years to wear the whites for India, as he replaced the man, who brought him into international cricket, Sourav Ganguly in the second test of the two-match Test series against New Zealand at his home ground in Mohali.

New Zealand had posted a mammoth 630 for 6 in their first innings and the 22-year-old Yuvraj walked in to join VVS Laxman with India at 330 for 4. He hung around for a while, adding 34 runs for the fifth wicket before edging one to wicket keeper Robbie Hart for 20 off 76 balls off Daryl Tuffey

The second innings didnt prove to be any fruitful as he reamined unbeaten on 5 as the match ended in a tame draw.

#3 Sourav Ganguly\'s final international hundred

Sourav Ganguly celebrates his 16th Test hundred

Prior to the start of the opening Test at Bengaluru against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar trophy of 2008, Sourav Ganguly had announced that this would be his final series as an international cricketer at a press conference.

Considering that this was to be his last series, there was certainly going to be an added motivation for him to perform and after an ordinary outing at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, the southpaw came to Mohali, hoping to get a big score.

India were 326 for 6 when nightwatchman Ishant Sharma fell for 9. Ganguly was still there and was joined by skipper for the match, MS Dhoni. The duo added 109 runs for the 7th wicket, en route to which the Kolkatan notched up his 16th Test hundred. He was out for 102 and India eventually posted a sizeable 469 in their first innings.

#2 Anil Kumble scales Mount 500

The Indian players are elated after Steve Harmison became Anil Kumble’s 500th victim

India were playing England in the second match of the three-test series in 2006. There was an air of expectation since Anil Kumble was just three shy of becoming the first Indian bowler to take 500 wickets in Test cricket.

The leg-spinner had taken his 498th wicket on Day One but had to wait in the dressing room for the whole of Day 2 as rain had the final say.

On Day 3, he came back to castle Paul Collingwood and then in the 104th over, he trapped Steve Harmison in front, to become the first Indian bowler to climb mount 500.

#1 Sacing Tendulkar goes past Brian Lara

Sachin celebrates after surpassing Brian Lara for most number of runs in Tests

India came into the second test of the four-match Test series against Australia, looking to go 1-0 up in the series. There was also added excitement surrounding the match as Sachin Tendulkar was just 14 shy of surpassing Brian Lara to become the highest run-getter in the history of Test cricket.

The hosts finished at 174 for 4 at Tea on the first day, but critically Tendulkar was three runs away from going past the historic mark. Off the first ball after the break, the right-hander glided a Peter Siddle delivery towards third man to complete the three runs he needed to go past Lara and become the highest run-getter in the longest format of the game.

He was eventually out for 88 to Siddle.