In less than two days’ time, Team India hits the yard for one of the biggest contests in the antiquity of cricket as they lock horns with Australia for a five-match Test series. With a 3-0 defeat against New Zealand that opened wounds on the skin, the visitors will be hopeful of redeeming themselves Down Under. However, it is not as easy as they say. The series is going to be wrought with almost unthinkable challenges, an overwhelming mountain of thorns and most importantly a night that will need more than one shining star for Rohit Sharma and company to brave.

With all of that being said, the situation wasn’t any less uncomfortable when India visited Australia for the last time. Back in 2020-21, rocked by the life-threatening pandemic, and a mortifying defeat in the ODI series, India garnered some momentum in the T20I sequence. The fans wanted a glimmer of hope in the darkest of times and there was barely any. With a defeat in the last T20I, India was left with frayed nerves that had to be braved.

It was the 17th of December, 2020, when the first Test started. Batting first India could pile up 244, thanks to Virat Kohli whose warring 74 coupled with resistance from Cheteshwar Pujara (43) and Ajinkya Rahane (42) kept the Aussie bowlers at bay from leaving India in a puddle of despair. Much to the joy of the Indian fans, a Ravichandran-Ashwin-special saw Australia being bundled out for 191, allowing India to secure a lead of 53 runs.

A day-night Test in the making and the Indian fans felt that it might be another stroke of history. History was made but for India it was a forgettable one. Awakening to a rude jolt, they were skittled out for a humiliating 36, leading to a volley of barbaric attacks on their prestige across the globe. From the Aussie and the English media to stalwarts like Michael Vaughan, no one allowed India an iota of reprieve. It was a bombs-away assault from all nooks and crannies of the park.

Losing out the first Test in the most merciless fashion and the entire cricketing world set to alight the Indian effigies in joy and exhilaration, India lost one of their key players as Virat Kohli had to return back to India ahead of the second Test. Nonetheless, Ravi Shastri decided to fight with whatever squadron he had at his behest and like true warriors, India fought until their last breath in the MCG.

Batting first, Australia was bundled out for 195 as Jasprit Bumrah and Ravichandran Ashwin didn’t let the Aussies breathe. Despite losing Mayank Agarwal on the very first ball, with the déjà vu of 36 all out creeping in, India decided to hit back. Ajinkya Rahane who took over the captaincy reins from Virat Kohli arrived at the centerstage, dishing out gladiatorial battle. His 112 laced with shards of resistance from Ravindra Jadeja (57) and Shubman Gill (45) saw India secure a convincing lead of 131 runs as they posted 326. The Australian batters were no match for the collective Indian bowling brilliance as they were bundled out again for 200. With 70 to win, Shubman Gill and Ajinkya Rahane got the job done for India with eight wickets to spare, silencing the Aussie media who were left stunned.

The caravan arrived in SCG and India had to keep up with the lofty expectations that they set for themselves back in MCG. Batting first, Australia posted 338 as Steve Smith hammered home a staggering 131. Ravindra Jadeja was the pick of the lot for the Indian bowlers as he claimed figures of 4/62. The Indian batters couldn’t come up with a significant showdown despite a burst of brilliance from Cheteshwar Pujara and Shubman Gill.

Australia declared for 312 in the second innings, posting India a mammoth target of 407 in the fourth innings. Rishabh Pant took over the mantle with an electric 97 while Cheteshwar Pujara blasted a brilliant 77 to keep India in the hunt. Things looked fine until Pujara remained in the center. However, once Josh Hazlewood rattled through the defences of India’s wall 2.0, India had to fend off the Aussie infringements for almost 50 overs and they had four wickets in hand. To add to India’s woes, Hanuma Vihari had to come out to the center after being retired hurt earlier.

The war of belief started. It was a crusade between two lower middle-order batters and a triptych of the world’s best bowlers. Copping blows left, right and center, Ravichandran Ashwin and Hanuma Vihari continued to wage a war. No matter whatsoever was the challenge, whether it was a chin-rattling bumper or a toe-shattering yorker, the duo kept on pushing the Aussies back. Eventually at the end of the day, India survived as Australia decided not to bowl the last over as a mark of respect to India’s mind-boggling resilience. Vihari stayed unbeaten for 23 from 161 balls while Ravichandran Ashwin was not out for 39 from 128 balls.

The series remained afloat and one final Test of mettle was left. India was stepping into a fortress that was unsullied for almost four decades. The Gabba welcomed India with hell while Australia stepped in for a joyride, hoping to vanquish and shatter the Indian resolve. With Ashwin and Vihari out of the last Test, India needed new heroes from a bunch of ragtag youngsters who were asked to step into the blazes.

Only if India knew that a new star was all set to be born from the ashes of his tears during the national anthem, they would have had more belief. Batting first, Australia posted 369, courtesy of Marnus Labuschagne’s stellar century. Despite having an early scare, an excellent 123 run stand between Shardul Thakur (67) and Washington Sundar (62) allowed India to fight back as they eventually got skittled out for 336, allowing things to be in close contention.

While Australia came out to bat, the fans and the players alike subjected immense torment to the Indian players and yet there stood a magician with his head held high, making his debut at the biggest stages of all, Mohammed Siraj. As Shardul Thakur raged from one end, Siraj brought the battery from the other. The duo wreaked havoc as they hammered Australia for 294, setting up an achievable yet difficult target of 328.

Shubman Gill started well, blasting a brilliant 91 while Cheteshwar Pujara scored another half-century to keep India going. However, eclipsing everyone, the man who stormed through the gates like a tempest unstoppable, Rishabh Pant arrived in the center. Pant had no relent, no remorse. He wanted to keep on going and he did keep on going. Smacking the bowlers from one end to the other, from one sight-screen to the other, from one hemisphere to the other, Rishabh Pant left Australia scrambling for shelter.

Despite a middle-order crisis, Washington Sundar provided enough hope with a battling 22 as India now knocked on the gates of a historic win. Pant blazed on 85 and was up against Josh Hazlewood with India three runs away from a win while they had 20 balls to pull it off. The Bendemeer Bullet fired one full and Pant drove it down the ground. Initially it felt like a tender-enough shot for a single followed by a sudden realization and a rush of emotions as the ball hurtled away to the fence.

India had just pulled off the unthinkable. They had breached Gabba. Vivek Razdan’s iconic voice boomed through the microphone, blaring ‘Toota hai Gabba ka ghamand…!’ What an iconic turnaround of events it was! It started on a note of humiliation and from there began a fightback. A fightback of belief and conviction, a fightback of mad hope and a challenge against destiny. The wheel of time turned for India and Ajinkya Rahane and his band of ragtag rebellions penned history at the cost of a shattered Australia. Who knows, maybe something better awaits Team India this time!