Six most memorable India Test matches in history

3. India v Australia, 2nd Test 2001, Eden Gardens, Kolkata – India won by 171 runs

In 2001, the backdrop was a supremely strong and ruthless Australian side playing against an Indian team finding their feet in the world. If not to prove their point, the Indians were thrashed out of sight in the first Test at Mumbai, adding insult to the injury the Indians faced in Australia under Sachin Tendulkar in 1999.

While there was political unrest in Kashmir and Aksai Chin (China Border), the Indians awaited for their crisis to be lifted. Little did they know that it would be lifted by VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid. The start of the match saw Harbhajan Singh spin the Aussies into a web when he claimed a hat-trick. However, this was not enough when the Indians’ worst fears were confirmed and they were blasted out for 171 and subsequently made to follow-on.

The second innings saw the Indians amass 657 runs including a mammoth 281 from Laxman and a wonderfully compiled 180 from Rahul Dravid, setting a target of 384 for Australia. Harbhajan Singh picked up figures of 6/73 and completing 13 wickets in the match as well as an impressive 171-run win. This impressive turnaround sparked confidence in Indian cricket.