Cricket is quite a remarkable game full of glorious uncertainties, and currently, there is no better instance to explain it than the ongoing Test between India and Australia at Pune. The home summer till this moment had been perfect for India as the Virat Kohli-led Test side was achieving ultimate highs and was surely headed towards a pinnacle. The position at the top of the rankings by a complete mile is another proof of that statement.
However, against an opposition with a terrible record on Indian shores, never did anyone even entertain the thought of India being on the backfoot. With the evening session underway at Pune, it does seem that only a miracle of the highest order can save India from some serious embarrassment.
In pursuit of Australia’s first innings score of 260, India were rocked early thanks to a fiery spell from Mitchell Starc. With 94-3, it did seem that India would get near to Australia’s first innings score. However, what happened over the due course of next 48 balls changed the complexion altogether.
48 balls, 11 runs and seven wickets. All it needed was 48 deliveries to turn the game on its head, as India endured its worst ever collapse in Test cricket, to hand Australia a massive first innings lead.
The second innings batting effort from Australia has further swelled that lead past 250, and with India to bat on a deteriorating surface, it seems highly unlikely that India will save this game. Nevertheless, the hosts can take some heart from their previous experiences of winning games despite conceding a first innings lead in excess of 100.
Against the West Indies in 1976 at Port Of Spain, Trinidad, the Indians went on to win the game despite conceding a first innings lead of 131. The hosts in return gave India a near impossible target of 406 to get and no one gave India any chance of surviving such a derelict situation.
The Indian batsmen, however, led by the brilliance of Sunil Gavaskar took on the challenge and gave the West Indies a fitting reply as they sealed the chase while losing just four wickets. Gavaskar and Gundappa Vishwanath piled up knocks of 102 and 112 respectively, as India got home in what remains their biggest run-chase in Test cricket.
The second instance of India winning a Test in such a situation was the epic game against Australia in Kolkata in 2001. After being asked to follow on, VVS Laxman put forward a show of tremendous guts and resilience as his masterclass of 281 created history. Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman batted the entire fourth day, and some magic from the spinners on the last day had Australia on its knees.
India can surely look up to the above games for inspiration and create history at Pune. The way to doing so would surely be tough, but not impossible.