After the memorable 2001 Australia tour of India when India was making a return tour in 2003-04 Australian summer Australia wanted revenge. They were also keen to make the last series of their legendary captain Steve Waugh a special one and most of the critics and fans thought it would be an easy win for Australia. However, the young Indian team under the feisty leader Sourav Ganguly had different thoughts. They managed to draw the first Test at Brisbane when Ganguly led the way with a masterful 144 as the teams moved to the picturesque Adelaide Oval for the second Test with a 0-0 scoreline.
The first day belonged to Australia. They won the toss and scored 400 runs for five wickets. Ricky Ponting scored a brilliant hundred and remained unbeaten at the end of day one. India introduced the young left-arm fast bowler Irfan Pathan who got the dream debut wicket of Matthew Hayden but that was it. On day two Australia took their total to 556 as Ponting finished with 242 and Anil Kumble finished with a 5-wicket haul for India. Australians scored runs at a rate of 4.37 runs per over and Indians had to bat more than 50 overs on day two.
The openers Virender Sehwag and Akash Chopra provided a brisk start as they put up 66 runs in 12 overs for the first wicket. However, Australia made a strong comeback and picked up Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, and Ganguly in space of four runs to put India under lots of pressure at 85/4. This was when the heroes of the 2001 Eden Test against Australia, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman came together. Yes, yet again.
The duo batted without much fuss till the stumps on day two and took India’s score to 180/4. On the third day from the beginning, it looked like it was going to be another special partnership as both Dravid and Laxman batted solidly and played their shots all around the ground and none of the Aussie bowlers was spared. The duo reached their respective hundreds and then ensured that India saved the follow-on. Finally, the partnership was broken after a grand 303- run partnership when Laxman nicked an Andy Bichel delivery to Adam Gilchrist for 148. Dravid kept going and got good support from the young Parthiv Patel as well as the tail-enders. He finished the day unbeaten on 199 and India were just 79 runs behind with three wickets in hand.
Day four started with Dravid reaching his well-deserved double hundred. India kept piling on the runs and finally was all out for 523 as Dravid was the last man to go for 233. Australia was just leading by 33 runs. Either a or a tricky target from the hosts on day five was the only possibility. However, a huge surprise was awaiting as the Indian pacer Ajit Agarkar bowled the best ever spell of his entire career to cripple the Aussies. He kept picking up wickets and finished with a career-best 6/41 as Australia were bowled out for only 196 in just 56.2 overs.
By the end of day four, Indian openers were back in the middle with a target of 230 runs and when the day ended, they already reduced the target by 37 runs without a wicket. India needed just 193 runs on day five for a dream win.
But Australians also were not in a mood of giving up so easily. On 16th December, day five of the Test match, Jason Gillespie got rid of Chopra in the 6th over of the day which brought the first innings hero Dravid on the crease. He held one end and built some key partnerships. Sehwag scored 47 and Tendulkar 37 and with 170/4 on board, India still needed 60 runs. VVS Laxman came and played a brisk inning of 32 off just 34 balls to take India within touching distance.
With India on 229/6, Rahul Dravid’s square-cut raced to the boundary to give India a special win. Dravid was ecstatic- he raised both his hands and kissed the badge on his cap with sheer pleasure in his eyes. It was India’s first Test win in Australia after 22 years and a brilliant exhibition of batsmanship by India’s one of greatest, Rahul Dravid made it possible.