India had plenty to prove when they arrived in Australia for the 2003–04 Test series. Their previous tour of the country, in 1999–2000 had ended in a 3-0 defeat. This time, they were facing Steve Waugh’s
Australia and a team that had established itself as the dominant force in world cricket. The first Test in Brisbane was drawn and then came Adelaide, where Rahul Dravid produced one of the defining performances of his career.
Australia batted first and Ricky Ponting scored 242, while Australia eventually posted 556. India had to respond with a big total just to stay in the game and they did exactly that. India lost early wickets, but Dravid settled in and began a long battle with the Australian attack. VVS Laxman joined him and the pair put together a massive 303-run partnership for the fifth wicket.
Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman lead India’s fightback
Rahul Dravid eventually went on to score 233, batting for close to 10 hours. Laxman scored 148 and India reached 523, leaving Australia with only a 33-run first-innings lead. The Karnataka batters innings was built around patience rather than desperation. Australia had already posted more than 500 and India responded by taking a lead. There was also a fascinating contest between the two No. 3 batters. Ponting had scored 242 in Australia’s first innings while Dravid responded with 233.
Drop Dead Gorgeous 😊
The pure magic of Rahul Dravid in this Adelaide masterpiece. ❤️pic.twitter.com/8EEFXIXdVn
— North Stand Gang – Wankhede (@NorthStandGang) October 1, 2022
The difference came in Australia’s second innings. Anil Kumble had already taken five wickets in the first innings and Ajit Agarkar then produced one of the most important spells of his Test career. He took 6/41 as Australia collapsed for 196. India were set 230 to win. The target was not straightforward. India lost wickets during the chase and Australia kept the pressure on, but Dravid remained there.
He finished the match unbeaten on 72 and hit the winning runs, cutting Stuart MacGill through the off side for four. India won by four wickets. The victory was significant beyond the result. It was only India’s second Test win in Australia at that point, and it gave the visitors a 1-0 lead in the four-Test series. For Dravid, Adelaide became one of the defining performances of his career. The 233 was followed by an unbeaten 72, giving him 305 runs across India’s two innings in the match.
