143 v Australia in Melbourne, 1981:
India’s tour of Australia in 1981 was a special one as they drew the three-match Test series against all the odds and did it in a stunning manner. The tour began on a dismal note for the visitors as Australia thrashed them by an innings and 4 runs. The second match ended in a draw before both the teams moved to Melbourne for the third and final Test.
Gundappa Viswanath scored a fine century to help India score 237 runs in the first innings. Australia, however, put themselves in the driver’s seat by scoring 419 runs with Allan Border scoring a century for them. In the second innings, India came up with a better display and scored 324 runs to set the hosts a modest target of 143 runs.
Australia were the favourites to chase down the total and clinch the series. However, the visitors had some other ideas. India came up with one of their best performances in Tests to bowl out their fancied hosts for just 83 runs and win the Test by 59 runs. Kapil Dev starred with the ball, taking 5 for 28.