On This Day: When Sourav Ganguly-led Team India defeated invincible Australia 2-1 in Test series

India vs Australia, 2001
India hosted Australia in a three-match Test series in 2001. India were led by Sourav Ganguly and Steve Waugh captained Australia.
1st Test – Mumbai
The first Test was the forgettable Mumbai Test that saw the hosts get thrashed by 10 wickets. Batting first, India were bowled out for 176. Centuries from Hayden and Gilchrist saw Australia post 349.
Tendulkar top scores in second innings
In the second innings, Tendulkar top-scored for India with 107-ball 65 but the Indian team managed only 219 runs, setting Australia a target of 47 runs. The Aussies won the Test by 10 wickets to go 1-0 up in the three-match series.
2nd Test – Kolkata
This was the famous Eden Garden Test that is still known for the heroics of Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman and Harbhajan Singh.
Australia enforce follow-on
After a terrific batting effort, Australia posted 445 in the first innings before the tourists bowled India out for a mere 171. The follow-on was enforced and India came out to bat again. This time, it would be game-changing.
The Dravid and Laxman show
Dravid and Laxman negated Australia’s command in the Test as the duo batted out the whole of the fourth day. They put up 376 runs for the fifth wicket, while Laxman had scored 281, Dravid 180. India set up a huge target of 384 runs for Australia. Harbhajan’s 6-for ensured the home side won the second Test and levelled the series at 1-1.
3rd Test – Chennai
Despite a spectacular effort from the Aussies, Ganguly’s side had held their nerves to pull off a thrilling two-wicket victory in Chennai.
Hayden’s double century
Australia’s opening batsman Matthew Hayden registered 320-ball 203 and helped his side to post 391 in the first innings.
Tendulkar’s hundred
A century from Tendulkar, along with crucial fifties from openers Shiv Sunder Das and Sadagoppan Ramesh, Laxman and Dravid boosted India to 501. Harbhajan stepped up once again, picked up 8 wickets to restrict Aussies at 264. India were given a target of 155 runs.
ON THIS DAY - March 22, 2001
On Day 5, Australia’s bowling unit bounced back well. The duo of Colin Miller and Jason Gillespie bagged 2 and 3 wickets each to derail India’s chase. However, Laxman once again stood strong between Australia and a win. He scored 82-ball 62. India clinched a nail-biting victory by 2 wickets in the Chennai Test on March 22, 2001.
India 2-1 Australia
Hayden finished as the series’ top-scorer with 549 runs ahead of Laxman (503 runs) and Dravid (338 runs). With 32 wickets, Harbhajan finished as the leading wicket-taker ahead of Glenn McGrath (17). Bhajji also was named the Player of the Series.