World Test Championship (WTC) Final between India and Australia is being called The Ultimate Test. Both teams are fighting it out at The Oval to come out as champions ultimately. Here we take a look at 5 of the best Test matches between India and Australia till now.
IND vs AUS: Top 5 Test Matches of All Time
India vs Australia 2010 Test Mohali
India needed 216 runs to win the Test match, and they were reduced to 124/8 with VVS Laxman and Ishant Sharma at the crease. Ishant Sharma displayed great determination and battled for 92 deliveries. He scored 31 runs and was an able partner for Laxman. When Ishant departed, India still needed 11 runs to win, with Laxman battling an injury. Raina was called in as a runner for Laxman, and Ojha entered the crease after Ishant’s departure. Ultimately Ojha managed to put the bat on the ball, and India secured the win. However, Laxman was seen hurling abuse at Ojha for taking a risky run during the chase. The emotions were high, and Laxman forgot all his pain after winning and hugged Ojha and Raina in delight.
India vs Australia 2011 Test Kolkata
The Eden Gardens Test against Australia will be remembered as one of the pinnacles of Indian Test cricket. In this home series in 2000-01, India trailed 0-1. Australia was on the verge of making it 2-0 at Eden Gardens after bundling India out for 171 in the first innings, taking a massive lead. The visitors then asked the Indians to take the next step, and what happened next blew them away. VVS Laxman (281) and Rahul Dravid (180) put on a record 376-run fifth-wicket stand to put the Aussies on the back foot. Chasing 384 to win, the Australians were bowled out for 212 by a bowling attack led by Harbhajan Singh, who took 13 wickets in the match, 7 in the first innings and 6 in the second innings. India ultimately won the Test match and the series.
India vs Australia 2008 Perth Test
What an exciting Test match. The game lasted only four days, but it kept swinging from one team to the other, session after session. After falling behind 0-2 in the series, Anil-Kumble’steamrallied to defeat the hosts and make it 2-1 going into the final Test. That was the first time any team had beaten the Aussies at the WACA in over ten years. It was also India’s first victory in Australia in more than four years. The fact that the Test victory in Perth came immediately after the SCG Test, which was marred by numerous controversies, including the infamous Monkey Gate episode, made it even more memorable for the Indian team and fans.
Also read: WTC Final 2023: India vs Australia Head to Head in Tests
India vs Australia 2021 Adelaide Test
A Test that India would like to forget but cannot for two reasons. One, they scored 36 runs in the second innings, the lowest in Test history. Two, what happened after this Test was unexpected as an injury-struck person. The Indian team defeated Australia 2-1 in two Tests. Adelaide will be remembered as the start of a historic journey on that tour. India scored 244 in the first innings before bowling out Australia for 191 to take a commanding lead. But then the unthinkable happened: India was bowled out for 36 in their second innings. Australia won and took a 1-0 lead by chasing down the small target on the third day.
India vs Australia 2021 Gabba Test
The Gabba Test victory was memorable. Many heated exchanges between Indian and Australian players occurred during this tour in 2020-21. Ex-Australian captain Tim Paine even warned R Ashwin about short stuff being bowled at Indians on the bouncy Gabba pitch ahead of the fourth and final Test. Australia had not lost a Test match at Gabba in 32 years, and the Aussies were very proud of their “Fortress.” India made history when the batting unit led by Rishabh Pant chased down 328 right before stumps on Day 5 to win the match and the series. Pant finished with an unbeaten 89 to breach the Gabba Fortress. India returned home with a series victory.
