The third and final Test match of the 2004 series, in Rawalpindi, proved to be epoch-making for Indian cricket, both individually and collectively.
Pakistan and India had gone into the match each having won a Test match apiece. But, this time, India were on top almost from the minute they won the toss and decided to bowl.
They soon had Pakistan in trouble. At 137/8, Pakistan looked like they might be bowled out cheaply in front of their home fans, with all their danger men back in the pavilion, including captain Inzamam-ul-Haq for just 15.
It was left to No. 8 Mohammad Sami to give their scorecard some respectability. He scored 49 before being run out, his partnership with Fazl-e-Akbar for the ninth wicket worth 70.
However, a final score of 224 was far less than Pakistan supporters would have wanted.
In reply, India lost Virender Sehwag early. That brought Rahul Dravid to the middle. He then batted over the best part of two days.
He scored 270 off 495 balls, the most deliveries faced – where ball-by-ball data is available – by an Indian up to that time (Cheteshwar Pujara has since beaten his record). He was at the crease more than 12 hours, and hit a six and 34 fours.
Dravid enjoyed significant partnerships with Parthiv Patel (69), V.V.S. Laxman (71) and his captain Sourav Ganguly (77). By the time he was finally out, India were in a dominant position, finally all out for exactly 600.
That meant Pakistan needed to score 376 in their second innings just to make India bat again. And after they were reduced to 94/5, the task was beyond them.
Mohammad Yousuf and Asim Kamal gave them brief hope with a partnership of 79 for the sixth wicket, but the fall of Yousuf for 48 essentially ended that. Kamal went on to make an unbeaten 60, but his efforts were ultimately in vain, as Pakistan were all out for 245. Anil Kumble took 4-47.
India won by an innings and 131 runs. With that, they also won their first ever Test series In Pakistan, 2-1 (to go with their 3-2 win in the ODI series as well).
The win also saw Ganguly break the record previously held by Mohammad Azharuddin for the most wins as Indian captain (M.S. Dhoni and Virat Kohli have subsequently gone on to beat that).