On January 19, 2021, a group of young, battered, and heavily underestimated Indian cricketers did the unthinkable. By securing a thrilling three-wicket victory on the final afternoon of the fourth Test, they did not just win a match—they demolished a 32-year-old dynasty. The Gabba Test IND vs AUS is now globally recognized as one of the greatest, most emotionally charged Test matches ever played in the history of international cricket.
Entering Brisbane for the series finale, the odds were mathematically and historically stacked against India. Australia had not lost a Test match at the Brisbane Cricket Ground—famously nicknamed 'The Gabba'—since November 1988. Yet, an injury-ravaged Indian team, missing almost all of their premier superstars, defied every prediction to chase down a daunting 328 runs on Day 5. This article dives deep into the narrative, the day-by-day drama, the complete scorecard, and the legacy of the historic gabba test ind vs aus.
The Context: From 36-All-Out to an Injury-Plagued 'A-Team'
To truly understand the weight of the gabba ind vs aus encounter, we must rewind to the absolute lowest point of modern Indian cricket: December 19, 2020. In the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at Adelaide, India was bowled out for a shocking, catastrophic 36 runs in their second innings. It was their lowest-ever Test score. The cricketing fraternity did not just write India off; global experts predicted an absolute 4-0 demolition by the ruthless Australian side.
Adding to the existential crisis, India's legendary captain and best batsman, Virat Kohli, departed on pre-planned paternity leave after the first Test. Star pacer Mohammed Shami suffered a fractured forearm. The captaincy was handed to the calm, understated Ajinkya Rahane.
What followed was a slow-burning masterpiece of resilience. At Melbourne, Rahane hit a majestic century to lead India to a series-leveling victory. At Sydney, India pulled off an legendary rearguard draw, batting through 131 overs in the fourth innings. Hanuma Vihari batted with a torn hamstring; Ravichandran Ashwin struggled with severe back spasms; Ravindra Jadeja was prepared to bat with a dislocated and fractured thumb.
The physical toll of these battles was devastating. By the time the caravan rolled into Brisbane, the Indian dressing room resembled a casualty ward. Jasprit Bumrah, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Hanuma Vihari, Umesh Yadav, and KL Rahul were all ruled out.
With their first-choice bowling unit completely unavailable, India went into the final test with an attack led by Mohammed Siraj, who had played just two Test matches. Supporting him was Shardul Thakur (who had bowled only ten balls in his debut match before getting injured), alongside debutants T. Natarajan and Washington Sundar, and Navdeep Saini in his second game. Combined, the Indian bowling unit had a mere 13 Test wickets to their name. Australia, conversely, fielded their full-strength, world-conquering bowling quartet: Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Nathan Lyon playing his 100th Test match. Tim Paine, the Australian captain, had famously sneered at Ashwin during the Sydney Test, saying, 'Can't wait to get you to the Gabba, mate.' The stage was set for an epic showdown.
Day-by-Day Chronicle: The Drama at Brisbane
Day 1: Australia Lays the Foundation
The gabba test ind vs aus date was set: January 15, 2021. Tim Paine won the toss and elected to bat. The pitch was hard, fast, and bouncy—typical of Brisbane. Marnus Labuschagne, Australia's batting machine, anchored the host's innings with an elegant, gritty 108. Steve Smith looked dangerous before being deceived by a clever delivery from debutant Washington Sundar, who took him out as his maiden Test wicket.
The inexperienced Indian bowling lineup refused to roll over. Mohammed Siraj bowled with heart and fire, while T. Natarajan struck crucial blows by dismissing Matthew Wade and Labuschagne in quick succession. By stumps on Day 1, Australia was in a strong but not completely dominant position at 274 for 5.
Day 2 & 3: The Great Escape by Sundar & Thakur
On Day 2, India's bowlers wrapped up Australia's first innings for 369. Natarajan, Sundar, and Thakur picked up three wickets apiece. When India came out to bat, they struggled significantly against the relentless pace of Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins.
On Day 3, India slumped to 186 for 6. A massive deficit seemed certain, and with it, Australia's victory appeared to be a mere formality. But then came one of the most heartwarming and crucial partnerships in Indian cricket history. Debutant Washington Sundar joined forces with Shardul Thakur.
Instead of playing defensively, the duo counter-attacked with astonishing courage. Thakur played authoritative drives and even hooked Pat Cummins for a spectacular six. Sundar exhibited flawless orthodox technique, matching Thakur shot for shot. Together, they added a breathtaking 123 runs for the seventh wicket. Thakur top-scored with a heroic 67, while Sundar departed for a magnificent 62. India posted 336, reducing Australia's first-innings lead to a mere 33 runs. Josh Hazlewood was the pick of the bowlers with a stellar five-wicket haul (5/57).
Day 4: Siraj’s Maiden Five-Fer Sets up the Finale
With a 33-run lead, Australia looked to set a massive target in their second innings. However, the young Indian attack, playing with unparalleled spirit, kept chipping away. Marcus Harris and David Warner gave them a quick start, but India struck back.
The emotional heartbeat of India's campaign, Mohammed Siraj, led the charge. Just weeks earlier, Siraj had lost his father but chose to stay in Australia to fulfill his dream. On Day 4 at the Gabba, Siraj claimed his maiden five-wicket haul (5/73) in Test cricket. His dismissals of Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne broke the back of Australia's batting order. Shardul Thakur supported him brilliantly with figures of 4/61.
Australia was bowled out for 294, setting India a target of 328 runs. No team had ever chased down such a total at the Gabba. Rain played spoilsport late in the day, leaving India at 4/0 at stumps on Day 4, with 324 runs needed on the final day.
Day 5: The Chase of the Century
Day 5 of the ind vs aus gabba 2021 Test began with a simple equation: India needed 324 runs, while Australia needed 10 wickets. A draw would be enough for India to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, but the young visitors had other plans.
The morning started with a massive blow as Rohit Sharma fell cheaply to Pat Cummins. However, a young Shubman Gill played one of the most elegant, fluent innings by an visiting opener in Australia. Driving, pulling, and cutting with absolute authority, Gill single-handedly shifted the momentum. He took on the terrifying pace of Mitchell Starc, pulling him for back-to-back boundaries. Gill missed out on a well-deserved century, falling for 91, but his knock had laid the foundation.
At the other end was Cheteshwar Pujara, the ultimate rock. Pujara played an innings of sheer physical endurance. The Australian fast bowlers resorted to a barrage of short-pitched deliveries, repeatedly striking Pujara on his helmet, fingers, chest, and shoulders. He wore every bruise like a badge of honor, absorbing 211 balls for a dogged, defiant 56.
When Ajinkya Rahane came in, he played a quick, aggressive cameo of 24 runs off 22 balls, signaling India's intention: they were going for the win.
After Rahane's departure, Rishabh Pant walked out to the crease. The stage was set for a generational talent to write his name into cricketing folklore. Pant paced his innings beautifully. He played defensively initially, letting Pujara hold the other end. After Pujara was trapped LBW by Cummins, Washington Sundar joined Pant. Sundar played a vital, fearless cameo of 22 off 29 balls, including a sensational reverse sweep off Nathan Lyon.
As the shadows lengthened over Brisbane, the equation came down to single digits. With 3 overs remaining, Rishabh Pant drove Josh Hazlewood through mid-off for a boundary. He threw his arms in the air, securing a historic 3-wicket victory. India had breached the fortress. 'Toota hai Gabba ka ghamand' (The pride of the Gabba is broken) became an overnight slogan of legend.
The Gabba Test IND vs AUS Scorecard: A Complete Breakdown
For cricket enthusiasts wanting to analyze the statistical dynamics of the game, here is the complete gabba ind vs aus scorecard. This match scorecard highlights how both teams performed over five grueling days of high-octane Test match cricket.
Australia 1st Innings: 369 All Out (115.2 Overs)
| Batsman | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Warner | c Rohit b Siraj | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 25.00 |
| Marcus Harris | c Sundar b Thakur | 5 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 21.74 |
| Marnus Labuschagne | c Pant b Natarajan | 108 | 204 | 9 | 0 | 52.94 |
| Steve Smith | c Rohit b Sundar | 36 | 77 | 5 | 0 | 46.75 |
| Matthew Wade | c Thakur b Natarajan | 45 | 85 | 6 | 0 | 52.94 |
| Cameron Green | b Sundar | 47 | 107 | 6 | 0 | 43.93 |
| Tim Paine (c & wk) | c Rohit b Thakur | 50 | 104 | 6 | 0 | 48.08 |
| Pat Cummins | lbw b Thakur | 2 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 25.00 |
| Mitchell Starc | not out | 20 | 35 | 2 | 0 | 57.14 |
| Nathan Lyon | c Mayank b Sundar | 24 | 22 | 4 | 0 | 109.09 |
| Josh Hazlewood | b Natarajan | 11 | 23 | 2 | 0 | 47.83 |
India 1st Innings Bowling:
- Mohammed Siraj: 28-10-77-1
- Shardul Thakur: 24-6-94-3
- Navdeep Saini: 7.5-2-21-0
- T. Natarajan: 24.2-3-78-3
- Washington Sundar: 31-6-89-3
India 1st Innings: 336 All Out (111.4 Overs)
| Batsman | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rohit Sharma | c Starc b Lyon | 44 | 74 | 6 | 0 | 59.46 |
| Shubman Gill | c Smith b Cummins | 7 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 46.67 |
| Cheteshwar Pujara | c Paine b Hazlewood | 25 | 94 | 2 | 0 | 26.60 |
| Ajinkya Rahane (c) | c Wade b Starc | 37 | 93 | 3 | 0 | 39.78 |
| Mayank Agarwal | c Smith b Hazlewood | 38 | 75 | 3 | 1 | 50.67 |
| Rishabh Pant (wk) | c Green b Hazlewood | 23 | 29 | 2 | 0 | 79.31 |
| Washington Sundar | c Green b Starc | 62 | 144 | 7 | 1 | 43.06 |
| Shardul Thakur | b Cummins | 67 | 115 | 9 | 2 | 58.26 |
| Navdeep Saini | c Smith b Hazlewood | 5 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 35.71 |
| Mohammed Siraj | b Hazlewood | 13 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 130.00 |
| T. Natarajan | not out | 1 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 11.11 |
Australia 1st Innings Bowling:
- Mitchell Starc: 21-3-88-2
- Josh Hazlewood: 24.4-6-57-5
- Pat Cummins: 27-5-94-2
- Nathan Lyon: 28-7-65-1
- Cameron Green: 11-1-20-0
Australia 2nd Innings: 294 All Out (75.3 Overs)
| Batsman | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marcus Harris | c Pant b Thakur | 38 | 82 | 8 | 0 | 46.34 |
| David Warner | lbw b Sundar | 48 | 75 | 6 | 0 | 64.00 |
| Marnus Labuschagne | c Rahane b Siraj | 25 | 22 | 5 | 0 | 113.64 |
| Steve Smith | c Rahane b Siraj | 55 | 74 | 7 | 0 | 74.32 |
| Matthew Wade | c Pant b Siraj | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Cameron Green | c Pujara b Thakur | 37 | 90 | 3 | 0 | 41.11 |
| Tim Paine (c & wk) | c Pant b Thakur | 27 | 37 | 3 | 0 | 72.97 |
| Pat Cummins | not out | 28 | 44 | 2 | 0 | 63.64 |
| Mitchell Starc | c Saini b Siraj | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 16.67 |
| Nathan Lyon | c Mayank b Siraj | 13 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 130.00 |
| Josh Hazlewood | c Thakur b Thakur | 9 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 81.82 |
India 2nd Innings Bowling:
- Mohammed Siraj: 19.3-5-73-5
- T. Natarajan: 14-4-41-0
- Washington Sundar: 18-1-80-1
- Shardul Thakur: 19-2-61-4
- Navdeep Saini: 5-1-32-0
India 2nd Innings: 329/7 (97 Overs) - Target: 328
| Batsman | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rohit Sharma | c Paine b Cummins | 7 | 21 | 1 | 0 | 33.33 |
| Shubman Gill | c Smith b Lyon | 91 | 146 | 8 | 2 | 62.33 |
| Cheteshwar Pujara | lbw b Cummins | 56 | 211 | 7 | 0 | 26.54 |
| Ajinkya Rahane (c) | c Paine b Cummins | 24 | 22 | 1 | 1 | 109.09 |
| Rishabh Pant (wk) | not out | 89 | 138 | 9 | 1 | 64.49 |
| Mayank Agarwal | c Wade b Cummins | 9 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 60.00 |
| Washington Sundar | b Lyon | 22 | 29 | 2 | 1 | 75.86 |
| Shardul Thakur | c Lyon b Hazlewood | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Navdeep Saini | not out | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - |
Australia 2nd Innings Bowling:
- Pat Cummins: 24-10-55-4
- Mitchell Starc: 16-0-75-0
- Josh Hazlewood: 22-5-74-1
- Nathan Lyon: 31-7-85-2
- Marnus Labuschagne: 4-0-15-0
Unsung Heroes and Defining Moments
While Rishabh Pant's winning drive off Josh Hazlewood remains the defining visual of this Test match, several peripheral figures made massive, series-defining contributions:
- Shardul Thakur's All-Round Heroics: Often overlooked in discussions about India's bowling elite, Shardul Thakur took 7 wickets in the match and scored an incredible 67 in the first innings. His fearless 123-run partnership with Sundar kept India in the contest when they were staring down a massive first-inning deficit.
- Mohammed Siraj Leading the Attack: Bereaved of his father just weeks prior and enduring hostile crowds, Siraj spearheaded an extraordinarily green bowling line-up. His emotional first maiden 5-wicket haul in the second innings broke the game wide open and ensured Australia could not set an unreachable target.
- Cheteshwar Pujara's Human Shield Act: Pujara took over eleven direct body hits on a cracked, uneven Day 5 surface. By absorbing the physical hostility of Cummins, Hazlewood, and Starc, he protected the fragile, inexperienced batting line-up from exposure to the second new ball too early.
- Washington Sundar's Fearless Debut: Put into the side at the eleventh hour, Sundar dismissed Steve Smith, took three wickets, and scored 62 in his very first Test innings, followed by a crucial, quick-fire 22 in the chase.
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
What was the date of the Gabba Test IND vs AUS in 2021?
The iconic Gabba Test match was played from Friday, January 15 to Tuesday, January 19, 2021.
Why was Australia’s streak at the Gabba so famous?
Prior to the 2021 Test, Australia had not lost a Test match at the Brisbane Cricket Ground (The Gabba) in 32 years. The last team to beat Australia at this venue was the legendary West Indies team in November 1988. Winning at 'Fortress Gabba' was considered one of the hardest challenges in world sport.
Who was the Player of the Match in the Gabba Test?
Rishabh Pant was named the Player of the Match for his extraordinary, unbeaten 89* in the fourth innings, which guided India to a historic three-wicket victory. Pat Cummins was named the Player of the Series for taking 21 wickets across the four matches.
What target did India chase on Day 5 at the Gabba?
India chased down a target of 328 runs, finishing on 329/7 in 97 overs. This was the highest successful run chase ever completed in a Test match at Brisbane, surpassing the previous record of 236 set by Australia against the West Indies in 1951.
How many Test matches had the Indian bowling attack played before the Gabba?
Due to rampant injuries, India's bowling attack was highly inexperienced. Mohammed Siraj was playing his 3rd Test, Navdeep Saini his 2nd, Shardul Thakur his 2nd, while Washington Sundar and T. Natarajan were making their Test debuts. Combined, the entire bowling attack had played only 4 Test matches and possessed a mere 13 wickets.
Conclusion
The Gabba Test IND vs AUS (2021) will forever be celebrated as the pinnacle of modern Test match cricket. It was a victory forged in the fires of adversity, built on the fearless spirit of a young, unheralded generation of players who refused to back down. When Tim Paine taunted India with 'Can't wait to get you to the Gabba,' he unwittingly set the stage for one of cricket's most glorious chapters of poetic justice. By breaching the Australian fortress with a second-string team, India proved that resolve, self-belief, and fearless intent can overcome the most daunting historical odds. The Gabba has been breached, and cricketing history will never be the same again.
