The Gabba in Brisbane holds a special place in the history of cricketing clashes between India and Australia. This iconic venue hosted the first-ever Test match between the two sides in 1947, marking the beginning of a fierce rivalry that has grown to become one of the most significant in world cricket. While India’s overall record at the Gabba has been less than stellar, their unforgettable victory in 2021 stands as a defining moment in the annals of Indian cricket.
India’s Record at the Gabba
India has played seven Tests at the Gabba, with the results largely favoring the home side. The first match in 1947 ended in a massive innings-and-226-run defeat for India, with Don Bradman scoring a majestic 185 before being dismissed hit wicket against Indian skipper Lala Amarnath.
Subsequent matches at the venue saw India lose by 39 runs in 1968, 16 runs in 1977, and by 10 wickets in 1991. It wasn’t until December 2003 that India avoided defeat at the Gabba, securing a hard-fought draw. In that match, Sourav Ganguly scored a memorable century, Zaheer Khan picked up a five-wicket haul, and the Australian duo of Justin Langer and Stuart MacGill delivered standout performances.
Australia claimed another victory in December 2014, but January 2021 marked a turning point. A depleted Indian side broke Australia’s 32-year unbeaten streak at the Gabba, pulling off a historic three-wicket win in the fourth and final Test of the series.
The Legendary 2021 Heist
With the series tied at 1-1, India headed into the 2021 Gabba Test with their backs against the wall. Australia posted 369 in the first innings, thanks to a century from Marnus Labuschagne. India replied with 336, driven by a remarkable 123-run seventh-wicket partnership between Shardul Thakur and Washington Sundar.
In the second innings, Mohammed Siraj’s five-wicket haul and Thakur’s four wickets restricted Australia to 294, setting India a target of 328. Shubman Gill led the charge with a scintillating 91, supported by Cheteshwar Pujara’s gritty 56 off 211 balls. Rishabh Pant then played a match-winning knock, scoring an unbeaten 89 off 138 balls to guide India to a thrilling victory.
This remarkable win secured India their second consecutive Test series triumph in Australia and etched their name in cricketing history.
Individual Records at the Gabba
India’s highest run-scorer at the Gabba remains ML Jaisimha, who scored 74 and 101 in the 1967-68 Test. Murali Vijay follows with 144 and 27 from the 2014 Test. On the bowling front, Erapalli Prasanna leads with eight wickets across two Tests, while Shardul Thakur ranks second with seven scalps, all from his incredible 2021 performance.
A Venue of Challenges and Triumphs
While the Gabba has been a challenging venue for India, their 2021 victory remains a testament to the team’s resilience and ability to overcome adversity. As India returns to the Gabba for the 2024/25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the memories of that historic win will undoubtedly inspire them to aim for another iconic performance.
