15 minutes ago
Rahul Dravid’s innings of 233* and 72* in the second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2003-04 are the best innings played by India on Australian soil.
In a poll by ESPN, Rishabh Pant’s inning of 89 runs at the Gabba was placed alongside Dravid’s innings, in which Rahul Dravid’s innings won. India defeated Australia by 4 wickets due to Rahul Dravid’s double century.
Australian team’s Ricky Ponting, who won the toss and elected to bat, put the Indian team behind in the match by scoring a brilliant double century. Due to his 242 runs, the Kangaroos scored a big score of 556 runs in the first innings. ESPN spoke to Rahul Dravid about his victory in this match and his match-winning partnership with VVS Laxman.
I had run out Sourav Ganguly: Dravid
When the Indian team came to bat in response to Australia’s 556 runs in the first innings, 4 wickets had fallen for 85 runs. On this question, Dravid said, I had run out the captain (Sourav Ganguly). I believe that whenever you bat, you think of building a partnership. The special thing between me and Laxman was that we had made many big partnerships before this. We did this in Kolkata 2001. The wicket was good for batting. When the ball became a little older, runs started being scored faster. Laxman is a great player. He was giving me a compliment. Because of which I was able to play big innings.
Rishabh’s innings is more important
Rishabh Pant’s innings played at Gabba helped the Indian team win the series in Australia for the second consecutive time. I am grateful that people liked my innings. But the way the Indian team has defeated Australia in the last two series. That is more important. Because no matter how well we all played together, we could never win the series till that time.
Australian bowlers are difficult to play
The former head coach of the Indian team said that it was difficult to make a partnership of 303 runs with Laxman in Australian conditions. The Kangaroo team was challenging us. When the second new ball came, we could score only 72 runs in 32 overs.
Dravid and Laxman have scored more than 4065 runs while playing 86 Tests together for India. In this match, both of them made a partnership of 303 runs.
Completed his century by hitting a six
It was very hot in Australia on the third day of the match. I had hit only one six in the entire innings. That too Jason Gilepsey bowled me a bouncer. I hooked and my century was completed. Whereas the connection of the ball with the bat was not correct.
Australia was defeated by 4 wickets
The Indian team scored 523 runs in the first innings and bowled out Australia for 196 runs in the second innings. Ajit Agarkar took 6 wickets. Indian team achieved the target of 230 runs by losing 6 wickets. In the second innings, Dravid scored unbeaten 72 runs and led the team to victory.
This win of India in Adelaide Test was the fourth overall win on Australian soil at that time.
