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OTD in 2010: When VVS Laxman’s 5th day heroics sealed India’s epic 1-wicket win

Poulomi Chakraborty

Team India's brilliant victory against Australia (Source: @ICC/x.com)Team India's brilliant victory against Australia (Source: @ICC/x.com)

The cricket world rides high with the thrills and excitement of the T20s, but the real excitement lies in the Test format. As the oldest format of the game, red-ball cricket often delivers the most dramatic moments, with iconic player performances making every match intensely memorable.

Five days of marathon thrills often made some matches iconic. Among the countless enduring moments in Test cricket, VVS Laxman’s masterful innings in the iconic 2001 follow-on Test stand out as a shining example of brilliance and resilience.

Alongside the heroics, Team India’s very, very special player secured another stunning 1-wicket victory in 2010 against Australia. On this day, fifteen years ago, VVS Laxman’s heroic innings sealed a memorable victory. Let’s rewind and relive that unforgettable moment.

India and Australia turn up the heat in the first innings

Facing Australia in a two-match Test series, both sides locked horns in the first Test match in Mohali. Batting first, Australia, known for its absolute brilliance, lost an early wicket but made a heroic turnaround. Standing on that point, Shane Watson and Ricky Ponting’s 141-run partnership turned the tide. After their dismissals, Tim Paine stepped up with a commanding 92-run innings, propelling Australia to a formidable total of 428.

Chasing the total was a tough task, but the Indian batters made the difference with their brilliance. After Gambhir and Sehwag gave a solid start, Dravid’s 77-run innings was a game-changer. Dominating over Australia’s lethal bowling, Sachin Tendulkar’s 98 and Suresh Raina’s 86 helped India end their first innings in 405 runs.

Coming to bat in the second innings with a 23-run lead, the Australian batting lineup faltered against India’s bowling attack. Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma’s combined pace attack, followed by Harbhajan Singh and Pragyan Ojha’s sheer domination, restricted the mighty Aussies to just 192 runs.

Laxman’s brilliant innings proves why he’s very, very special

While the target was not a difficult one to chase down but when Australia is standing as the opponent, the job becomes tougher, and the innings were no different. But if the Aussies had brilliant Mitchell Johnson, Team India was ready with their very, very special weapon in the name of VVS Laxman.

Starting the chase after the tea break of the fourth day, Team India lost four quick wickets and ended the day on 55/4. Starting the day 5 with a hope of a magical turnaround, Zaheer Khan walked away scoring 10 runs, and Laxman joined Sachin Tendulkar on the field.

Combining brave hitting with some quick singles, Laxman steadied Team India’s innings. After Tendulkar, Dhoni, and Harbhajan Singh’s consecutive dismissals, Australia almost grabbed the match, but India’s most dependable batter showed that he was still standing on the crease.

As that was the last day of the thrilling Test, the hosts needed a long way, but the time was short, and Laxman flipped the script. Stitching a crucial partnership with Ishant Sharma, he pushed the team closer to the goal. When Ishant fell for 31, India was teetering, just a few runs away from glory with a solitary wicket in hand.

The Test format demands patience, skill, and nerves of steel, qualities that define a legend. On that unforgettable day, VVS Laxman once again displayed his mastery. With 11 runs needed for a win, he guided Pragyan Ojha, and the bowler didn’t disappoint. Laxman’s unbeaten 73 off 79 balls steered India to a breathtaking 1-wicket triumph over Australia, turning the match into an iconic chapter in cricket history.