Captain Rahane’s odyssey Down Under: The story of India’s historic 2020-21 tour of Australia

How many captains can ever lay claim to turning around a tidal wave and standing tall like a true gladiator? Well, Ajinkya Rahane certainly can. Not only did he turn the tide around, but he took over the reins of a ship that was on the cusp of sinking and brought it home, exactly the way epics are sung about.

As the world remains swept up by a growing fascination with tales like that of Odysseus, Rahane chose to live one out himself, back in the day. India were up against Australia Down Under, and a thunderbolt was dropped on them in Adelaide. With the infamous Aussie media going ruthlessly at the throats of the Indian team, there were more shocks still to come.

Virat Kohli had to return home, and India needed a skipper. Ajinkya Rahane chose to step up, being the vice-captain of the team, and he was not willing to take a backseat. He wanted to lead by example, and India fought back strongly in Melbourne.

Rahane’s century in the first innings allowed India to secure a comprehensive lead, with support from Ravindra Jadeja, who got an excellent half-century. The Indian bowlers pushed Australia back further in the second innings, setting themselves a target of just 70 runs.

Rahane’s century in the first innings allowed India to secure a comprehensive lead, with support from Ravindra Jadeja, who got an excellent half-century.

The Indian bowlers pushed Australia back further in the second innings, setting themselves a target of just 70 runs.

Despite a couple of blips along the way, India crossed the finish line without much fuss, as Rahane got another crucial 27 in the second innings, snuffing out any talk of a capitulation from India Down Under.

The third Test was another true test of character for the visitors, figuratively and literally. Australia secured a significant lead at the end of the first innings, and India had a mile and a half to cover in the second if they were to win, or at least draw, the contest.

A marathon battle from Ravichandran Ashwin and Hanuma Vihari, despite all the trials and tribulations rained down upon them by Australia, saw India enforce a herculean stalemate, eventually pushing the fate of the series to the Gabba - a fortress that had not been breached in 32 years.

Rahane’s men were dealt further blows and found themselves with their backs against the wall. But the general believed in his soldiers, and the rest fell into place. India and Australia went at each other’s throats till the very end, and a Rishabh Pant special saw India secure a historic Border-Gavaskar Trophy triumph.

The world stood up in awe as Rahane and his men left the mighty Aussies stunned in their own backyard.

That was Ajinkya Rahane’s odyssey in the flesh. Almost after every single Test, India had to figure out their playing XI. They had to think about what strategy would suit their side ahead of every day they went out to play. They had to navigate the treacherous crosscurrents of Australia’s brutal pace battery.

And yet, Team India believed because their skipper believed - and the rest, as they say, is history.