This test was played between India and Australia from 7 to 11 February. Team India was behind 1-0 in the series. Apart from Gavaskar’s anger, this match is also remembered for Kapil Dev coming on the field despite being injured and performing brilliantly.
Indian cricket team is preparing for Australia tour. The first match of the five-Test series will be played in Perth from November 22.
When it comes to the Indian team’s big Test wins in Australia, the Test played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in 1981 definitely comes to mind. The Indian team had defeated the Kangaroos by 59 runs at home, thanks to the brilliant performance of Kapil Dev and Sunil Gavaskar.
India vs Australia: Team India defended 143 runs in the fourth innings
- In 1981, the Besson and Hedges series was played between India and Australia. Australia won the first test. The second test was a draw. The third Test was played in Melbourne from 7 to 11 February.
- The Indian team was captained by Sunil Gavaskar, while the Kangaroo team was led by Greg Chappell. Gavaskar won the toss and decided to bat first. The first innings ended at 237.
- Gundappa Vishwanath played the highest innings of 114 runs for Team India. Apart from this, no batsman could score more than 25 runs. In reply, the host team scored 419 runs.
- In this way Australia got a significant lead of 182 runs in the first innings. Now the onus was on Team India’s batting to save the series. Gavaskar and Chetan Chauhan made a great start.
- Both added 165 runs for the first wicket. Gavaskar was out on 70 runs. Chetan Chauhan (85 runs) also missed his century. Overall, Team India’s second innings ended at 324.
- In this way, Australia needed 143 runs to win the Test match and the series. Team India’s troubles increased when Kapil Dev got injured and left the field on the fourth day of the match.
Injured Kapil showed amazing
The Indian team started the fourth innings without Kapil Dev. By the end of the fourth day’s play, Australia’s score was 24 runs at the loss of 3 wickets. After the end of the day’s play, Kapil Dev was prepared.
The next day, Kapil bowled brilliantly and took five wickets for 28 runs in 16.4 overs. In this way, Australia’s second innings was reduced to 83 runs and India won the match by 59 runs. The series remained tied at 1-1.
Gavaskar’s anger became the center of discussion across the world.
Some such drama happened on the fourth day of the match, which is discussed till today. When Gavaskar was given out LBW in the second innings, the captain was furious. He boycotted the match raising questions on the umpiring. He came out of the field with his batting partner Chetan Chauhan.
However, Gavaskar was later persuaded and the match restarted. Referring to that incident in 2014, Gavaskar had said that he should not have behaved like that. Gavaskar had then said that even though I was given a wrong out, it was wrong to leave the field.
