Dec 16, 2003 - we walk down memory lane to turn the leaf of one of our favourite chapters - India's historic Test win at Adelaide. We pressed the F5 button yet again to refresh our memory and all it threw up was nostalgia – 17 years ago, on this day India celebrated an unprecedented fightback and eventual victory on Aussie soil.

The 2003-04 tour started with a draw at Brisbane, India were put on the back foot on the very first day of the second Test at Adelaide. Australia were 400/5 at stumps with Ricky Ponting hurtling to his double century, not out at 176.

The second day wasn't any different in terms of luck for India either, as following Australia's mammoth 556 (Ponting finished on 242), India were reduced to 85/4 inside the 21st over. Andy Bichel was on fire and it seemed only a miracle could save India from a massive defeat. Well, what ensued thereafter was nothing less than a miracle.


Rahul Dravid (233) and VVS Laxman (148) - the duo that carved out a sensational win at Eden Gardens under similar circumstances against the same opposition in 2001, were turning out to be Indian cricket's messiah once again. The pair of Dravid and Laxman stitched 303 runs together to take India closer to the Aussie first-innings total and even though we fell short by 33 runs, their contribution eventually paved the way for our bowlers to turn the tables on the mighty Aussies.

Ajit Agarkar's 6/41 brought the Aussies to their knees in the second innings, and India completed a 230-run chase to seal victory. Dravid, “The Wall”, for his magnificent 233 and an unbeaten 72 in the second dig was adjudged the Man of the Match.