India won their second Test vs Australia on this day In 1964

On October 15, 1964, India won one of the greatest Test matches played on Indian soil vs Australia at the Brabourne Stadium, Bombay (now Mumbai). India, chasing a stiff target of 254, chased down the total with only two wickets in hand. India led by B. Chandrashekhar and MAK Pataudi’s efforts completed an unlikely victory over the dominant Australian side. This was only India’s second victory vs Australia. 

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Throwback Australia favourites

The second Test match of the Australia Tour of India 1964 started on October 11. Australians were overwhelming favourites after demolishing India in the first Test match. Graham ‘Garth’ Mckenzie had picked up a 10-wicket haul as the visitors won the match by 139 runs in Madras. Australia won the toss in Bombay and elected to bat first. However, shortly after the toss top-order batsman Norm O’Neil suffered an injury resulting in Australia playing the entire test match with 10 men. Australia ended with 320 in their first innings, thanks to half-centuries from Peter Burge(80), Tom Veivers (67) and keeper Barry Jarman (78). Bhagwat Chandrashekhar was the pick of the Indian bowlers picking up 4/50.  

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In their first innings, India managed to take a slender lead of 21 runs. India managed to score 341 all thanks to a captain’s knock by Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi (86) and half-centuries from Motganhalli Jaisimha and Vijay Manjrekar. After being reduced to 188/6, India’s tail-enders managed to chip in with valuable runs to take them to a position of strength.  Veivers continued to star for Australia, picking up 4/68.

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Australia in their second innings scored 274, setting a target of 254 for India. Bapu Nadkarni and Chandrashekhar both picked up 4-wicket hauls to bowl out Australia after half-centuries from Bill Lawry (68), Brian Booth (74) and Bob Cowper (81). India got to a worst possible start after first innings half centurion Jaisimha was dismissed for a duck. Dilip Sardesai and Salim Durrani got the innings back on track with a vital 66-run stand. After Durrani was dismissed just before the close of play, Pataudi sent nightwatchman Bapu Nadkarni, who was instantly removed by Veivers. India decided to hold back Vijay Manjrekar and sent another nightwatchman Rusi Surti as they ended the day at 74/3 needing 180 on Day 5.

A Tale Of Resilience 

After a phase of resilience, Rusi Surti departed after spending some valuable time at the crease. In walked Hanumant Singh, but didn’t last that long. Simpson brought back Madras Hero McKenzie who removed both Sardesai and Hanumant. With the score 122/6, India Captain MAK Pataudi and Vijay Manjrekar, the two senior-most batsmen of the team, took over the mantle of guiding the team to victory. The Australians were relentless and the Indians were resilient. The pair added 93 for the 7th wicket, dealing some body blows in the process. Manjrekar departed after scoring 39. With the captain still at the crease and India needing 39, it seemed all was over for Australia. Alan Conolly though had different ideas. After having dismissed Vijay, Conolly sent Pataudi back to the pavilion with India still 30 runs away from victory.

The Winning Moment

Chandu Borde along with keeper-batsman prince Indrajitsinhji, nephew of the great Ranjitsinhji and brother of Hanumant and Suryaveer Singh, cautiously engineered a partnership. Australia sensing a chance of victory went for the overkill, which eventually led to their fall. Veivers, bowling his 44th over of the innings, gave away a full toss as Borde smashed it to the fence to give India a memorable win. The entire celebrated one of India’s most famous and epic matches on the eve of Dusshera. Captain MAK Pataudi later mentioned his autobiography that the victory was his most satisfying one as captain.

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