10 unforgettable events in the India-Australia rivalry

Sachin Tendulkar and Shane Warne shared one of the most intense rivalries in cricket history

There are certain rivalries in cricket such as The Ashes and India vs Pakistan that have been arond for many years. Given that they have been around for many years, these are intensely competitive and extremely fierce in nature.However, there is one rivalry that is relatively new, but is just about as intense and fierce as the older rivalries in cricket. In the last decade, the India-Australia rivalry has provided some great moments that have been etched in the memories of fans. Let’s take a chronological look at 10 of the most unforgettable.

#10 Desert Storm, 1998: Aussies blown away

Sachin Tendulkar and Shane Warne shared one of the most intense rivalries in cricket history

The 2 ‘Desert Storm Innings’ that Sachin played are surely two of the best innings that he played during his career. It was a classic case of how The Little Master used to single-handedly carry the Indian team to victory back in the nineties. Infact, the one that he played in the final came on his 25th birthday, making it all the more special. Such was the impact of these innings that Shane Warne, the spin maestro said that he had nightmares of Tendulkar skipping down the track and hoisting him for a six.

The first of the 2 innings came in the final league game of The Coca Cola Cup. It was a virtual semifinal of sorts as India had to either win or finish with a net run rate better than the Kiwis to make it to the finals. Australia posted a total of 284/7 thanks largely to Michael Bevan’s century and Mark Waugh’s 84. The game, however, was interrupted by sand storms as India were set a target of 276 runs in 46 overs. To better New Zealand’s NRR, India had to score 237 runs in 46 overs. Tendulkar then took matters in his own hands as he scored a blistering 143 off just 131 balls and helped India get past the desired qualification score.

In the final, the Aussies were brilliant with the bat yet again as they set India a target of 273 runs for victory. The Birthday boy treated the audience with another majestic batting performance as he dispatched the Australian bowlers to all parts of the ground. In the end, The Men in Blue achieved victory with a good 9 balls to spare, thereby making Sachin’s birthday very special. These innings are often considered as benchmarks in ODI batting as they were well paced and had all the shots in the book.

Take a look at the brilliant innings that the batting maestro played in the final in the video below:

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#9 Kolkata Test, 2001: A lesson in Guts and Glory

Team India is delighted after beating the Aussies

Having won a record 16 tests on the trot under inspirational captain Steve Waugh, Australia looked unstoppable. However, Ganguly’s men had other plans as they brought the high flying Kangaroos to the ground. Often considered to be one of the best tests ever played, this match is a lesson on how good a leveller cricket is.

Steve won the toss and elected to bat as Australia posted a total of 445. Harbhajan Singh picked up India’s first ever test hat-trick and ended up with 7 Australian wickets. India’s reply, however, was disastrous as they were bowled out for a mere 171 runs. Sensing victory, Tugga enforced the follow on as India were asked to bat again. At 232/4, it looked as if all was lost for Team India. That is when Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman joined hands and stitched a record 376 runs for the 5th wicket, including the 4th day on which not a single wicket fell.

Dada declared the Indian innings at 657/7 as the Aussies were set an unlikely target of 384 for victory. Bhajji was all over the Australian batsmen yet again as he picked up 6 wickets and the mighty Australians were dismissed for 212, thereby handing India an unlikely victory by 171 runs. India carried this momentum in the next test at Chennai as they beat the Aussies by 2 wickets and won the series 2-1.

Relive that historic win in the video below:

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#8 The Final, ICC Cricket World Cup 2003: A billion hearts are broken

The Aussies after defending their title in 2003

This surely has to be one of the most heartbreaking losses Indian cricket fans must have witnessed. Yes, the Aussies were on an unbeaten streak going into the finals. Yes, they had thumped India in their group stage encounter. But well, there was belief in the Indian camp and among the fans that after 20 long years, the Men in Blue will finally get their hands around the coveted world cup trophy. What transpired, however, left the Indian fans shell shocked to say the least.

Ganguly won the toss and surprisingly elected to bowl first on a belter of a wicket. All members of the Indian team were featuring in their first World Cup Final and the nerves were pretty apparent. Before they could get a grip of things, Australia had raced to 105 in under 15 overs. A couple of wickets fell in quick succession and the Aussie score read 125/2 in just under 20 overs. Thereafter, their captain, Ricky Ponting, lead from the front as he played a blazing knock of 140 from just 121 balls as the defending champs set India a huge total of 360 for victory.

Sachin Tendulkar, who was in scintillating form, was India’s big hope in pursuit of the Aussie total. However, he was dismissed in the very first over of the Indian innings and thereafter, batsman after batsman faltered as Ganguly’s men were bundled out for 234, a good 125 runs short of Australia’s score. India’s african safari came to a really sad end as the Aussies retained their title.

Watch the highlights of that game in the video below:

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#7 Adelaide Test, 2003: Believe and The World is Yours

Rahul Dravid celebrates victory
Rahul Dravid is thrilled to bits after taking India to victory

Team India had not won a test in Australia for nearly 23 years going into this series. However, this time, an Indian team that was high on self belief embarked on the Tour of Australia under their dynamic leader Sourav Ganguly. India managed to draw the first game in Brisbane and came into this game feeling really good. The Aussies, however, immensely displayed their World No 1 mettle as they posted a mammoth score of 556 thanks largely to Ponting’s double hundred.

Rahul Dravid surely had an answer for this as he dished out a vintage batting performance as India were bundled out for 523, just 33 runs shy of the Australian total. A whirlwind spell from Ajit Agarkar helped India reduce the Kangaroos for a total of 196 in their second essay, setting India a competitive score of 230 for victory. The Wall, though, looked in a league of his own as he remained unbeaten on 72 and with the help of useful contributions from the other Indian batsmen, took India to one of it’s most famous victories overseas.

The below video is an account of that impressive performance by Rahul Dravid:

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#6 Mumbai Test, 2004: Impossible is Nothing

Harbhajan Singh and Murali Kartik are extremely delighted after the Indian victory

This match epitomises the saying, “Cricket is a game of glorious uncertainties”. Having wrapped up the series in the previous test at Nagpur, Australia’s confidence was skyhigh going into this one. Team India, on the other hand had their backs to the wall as they were without their inspirational captain, Sourav Ganguly for the second match running. However, all of this mattered very little at the end as the Men in Blue edged out the Baggie greens by a close margin of 13 runs in a game that lasted just 3 days.

Jason Gillespie carried on with his wicket taking streak in this game as well as Team India was bundled out for a sorry total of 104. Anil Kumble and Murali Kartik then spun a web around the Aussies as they were dismissed for 203. India were trailing by 99 runs and thanks to gritty half centuries from Tendulkar and Laxman, were bowled out for 205, setting the men from down under an easy target of 107 runs.

On what was a minefield of a wicket, Bhajji and Murali Kartik tormented the Aussie batsmen as they were bundled out for a mere 93 runs in just over 30 overs. This surely was an inspirational bowling performance by the Indians as they had already lost the series, but had not lost the will to win that Ganguly had instilled in them.

Relive that inspirational showing by the Indian bowlers in the video below:

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#5 World T20 Semifinal, 2007

The Indian players celebrate after completing a 15-run win
Team India after beating the Aussies in the World T20 Semifinal

Australia were the clear favorites going into this one for obvious reasons. One, they had won the 50 over World Cup earlier that year and two, Team India was relatively inexperienced as compared to their Aussie counterparts. The Men in Blue, however, brought their A game to the fore, as they pipped the Aussies by 15 runs and set a dream final with arch rivals Pakistan.

Powered by Yuvraj Singh’s blistering knock of 70 from 38 balls, Team India posted a big score of 188 in their 20 overs. The numerous big hitters in the Australian team lived up to their reputation and it looked as if the Aussies would romp home. However, the Indian bowlers held their nerve as they picked up wickets at regular intervals and pegged the then World Champs back. This was one of those rare matches where Sreesanth delivered a power packed performance in an India shirt.

Take a look at Yuvraj’s blistering knock from that game in the video below:

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#4 Sydney Test, 2008: Infamy has a new name

Harbhajan Singh has a chat with Ricky Ponting
Bhajji and Punter have a go at each other

This is one test that is remembered for all the wrong reasons: Poor umpiring, poor spirit on part of the players and yes, some really unnecessary banter between players of both teams. The Aussies did win the game and levelled their record of 16 test wins on the trot but ended up as sore losers. The then World Champs drew flak from all quarters for the their unsportsmanlike behavior.

Having won the 1st test in Melbourne by a convincing margin, Ponting’s men were on a high. Punter won the toss and opted to bat. Aided by several glaring umpiring blunders and Andrew Symonds unbeaten 162, Australia went on to make 463 in their first innings. Both Sachin and Laxman scored centuries at their beloved SCG as India took a crucial lead of 69 runs over the Aussies. It was during the Indian innings on Day 3 that the infamous Monkeygate scandal happened. Nobody knows what exactly Bhajji and Symmo told each other. However, the long and the short of it is that it wasn’t good for the spirit of the game.

Aided by some more poor umpiring, Australia went on to score 401/7 declared in their second innings as India were set an improbable target of 333 runs in just over 2 sessions. A draw was certainly on the cards. However, the umpires it seemed were in favor of an Australian victory as a couple of more dubious decisions helped the Aussie bowlers trigger an Indian slide as India were bowled out for 210.

Check out how poor umpiring ruined that test:

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#3 Perth Test, 2008: A moral victory and A morale Victory

India can't contain their delight after sealing the deal
Team India after conquering the Aussie fortress

Within 10 days of the drama that unfolded in the Sydney test, Team India took on the Aussies at The WACA. It was an Australian fortress, the then no 1 test team had not lost a game in Perth for almost 11 years. On top of that, the Aussies were on a hot streak of 16 wins on the trot. To sum it up, nobody would have given the subcontinental giants a cat in a hell’s chance to win this one.

However, the unthinkable happened. A determined Indian unit played with the single minded focus of a win and exorcised the demons of all the drama that transpired in Sydney. Thanks to useful contributions from Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar, India posted a decent total of 330 on board. Australia were then bundled out for 212 as the Indian bowlers dished out an impressive performance in conditions suited for bowlers. Laxman was at the Aussies yet again as India managed 294 in their 2nd essay, thereby setting a target of 413.

Australia’s second innings is mainly remembered for that dream spell that Ishant Sharma bowled to Ponting. The way he troubled the Aussie skipper over the course of an extended spell is the stuff of legend. The other Indian bowlers too were relentless as the Kangaroos were bowled out for 340, thereby handing the Indians a deserved victory by 72 runs. Check out Ishant’s brilliant spell to Ponting in the video below:

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#2 CB Series Final, 2008: Kangaroos tamed in their own backyard

An elated Indian team holds aloft the trophy
Team India is delighted after winning the CB series

India’s record in the finals of multi nation tournaments was dismal leading upto this tournament. Out of the 8 finals played before the CB series, India had lost a whopping 6 of them and were joint winners in 2 of them thanks to rain altercations. However, Captain Cool, MSD, decided to change the script this time round. India revenged their test series loss in style as they thumped the Aussies 2-0 in the Best of 3 finals.

India’s charge in both games was lead by Sachin Tendulkar who looked in great touch right through the tour. In the 1st final, the Aussies managed to post a score of 239 on board as they were kept on a tight leash by the Indian bowling. The Men in Blue powered past the Australian total thanks largely to Sachin’s first ODI hundred on Australian soil.

In the 2nd final, India posted a decent total of 258 on board, thanks largely to Sachin’s 91. Another inspirational bowling performance helped India restrict a strong Australian batting order to 9 runs shy of the Indian total.

#1 Quarterfinal 2, ICC World Cup 2011

Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina celebrate India's win
Yuvraj and Raina are delighted after India’s win over the Aussies

This was India’s date with destiny. And it turned out to be a memorable one at that. The Aussies, against whom India lost in the 2003 World Cup final, were on a 34 match unbeaten streak in the World Cup. Ponting was looking to make it 3 World Cups in a row as captain and the 4th consecutive one for the mighty Aussies. However, Yuvraj Singh would have none of that as he guided The Men in Blue to victory in an absolute cliffhanger of a game.

The 4 time World Champs set a stiff target of 261 for Team India thanks largely to Punter’s 100. India looked in control for most parts of the chase. However, a few nervy moments and India were down to 187/5. The match was poised on a knife’s edge. That’s when Yuvraj and Raina took matters in their hands and won the game for India with a good 14 balls to spare. India went on to win the tournament and Yuvi won the Man of the Series award.

Relive some of the best moments from that thriller in the video:

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Edited by Staff Editor