Team India kept the series levelled at 1-1 and will now face Australia at the Gabba Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Team India put on a spectacular show at Sydney and made sure to not give Australia the happiness of victory. The visitor's side kept the series levelled at 1-1 and will now face the host at the Gabba Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
While the Men in Blue are marred with injuries, their build-up to the final Test hasn't been too encouraging after reports of them being unhappy with the hotel facilities in Brisbane emerged.
India also have to defy history if they are to win at the Gabba, a venue they have not lost a single Test since 1988. India have played six Tests at Brisbane having lost five and one ending in a draw.
With a depleted squad and to prove a point to the Aussies, a recall back to history where Indian batsmen flourished at The Gabba against Australia - and Virat Kohli is not one of them.
1. Sunil Gavaskar
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Back in 1977, India came close to beating Australia at the Gabba, thanks to the fourth-innings century by Sunil Gavaskar.
The visitors were set a target of 341 runs and while India kept losing wickets at one end, Gavaskar held the fort for as long as he could.
He occupied the crease for 320 minutes and faced 264 balls to score 113 featuring 12 fours. It was Wayne Clark who eventually ended Gavaskar’s resistance.
India were 243 for 6 when Gavaskar was sent back needing less than a hundred runs for victory. Despite a brave 55 from Syed Kirmani and skipper Bishan Bedi's unbeaten 26, the visitors were bowled out for 324, losing by 16 runs.
2. Sourav Ganguly
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During the 2003-04 series Down Under, Sourav Ganguly's men's performances away from home were viewed with scepticism.
Ganguly, however, raised the bar and set the tone of the series with a captain's knock. Batting first, Indian restricted Australia to 323 runs. However, India needed to bat well to stay in the game.
After a half-century partnership between Aakash Chopra and Virender Sehwag, India crumbled to 62 for 3. Sachin Tendulkar was sent back for a duck. It was Ganguly who stood tall and played the innings of the highest order. The Indian captain compiled a quite magnificent 144 off 196 balls.
Despite the absence of Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath, Australia's decent bowling lineup made sure to get the victory.
3. ML Jaisimha
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Renowned for his flamboyance, ML Jaisimha in 1968 nearly pulled off a famous win for India in Brisbane. India were set to chase 395 runs to win. They crumbled to 61 for 3 before Rusi Surti (64) and skipper Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi (48) put up a show.
No one expected India to get anywhere close to the target until Jaisimha came on to bat. He occupied the crease for 291 minutes and hit nine fours.
Jaisimha along with Chandu Borde lifted India from 191 for 5 to 310 for 6. With Borde being dismissed for 63, Jaisimha was left with too much to do.
He reached his magnificent ton but was the last man out for 101. India were bowled out for 355, going down by 39 runs.
4. Murali Vijay
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India's former opener Murali Vijay had played a pivotal member in 2014. India batted first after winning the toss, and Vijay scored a wonderful 144.
The opener stood tall against Australian bowling lineup featuring Mitchell Johnson, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon and Shane Watson.
Vijay in his 213-ball stay at the crease hit 22 fours. India posted an impressive 408 runs on the board.
The knock, however, was in vain as Steve Smith's century and Johnson's 88 lifted Australia to 505. The Indian batting line-up collapsed in the second innings that paved the way for the hosts' four-wicket triumph.
5. Ajinkya Rahane
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India are still awaiting a fifth centurion at the Gabba. That’s how difficult things have been for Indian at the venue.
During Ajinkya Rahane's first tour of Australia in 2014-15, the now stand-in captain produced a few impressive knocks even as the team struggled.
Rahane's 81 was the perfect foil to Vijay's 144 as India set to rebuild their innings. The visitors were in trouble at 137 after losing three - Shikhar Dhawan (24), Cheteshwar Pujara (18) and Virat Kohli (19).
