India vs Australia 3rd Test: Virat Kohli's India avoid the same fate as Kapil Dev's team in 1985 at MCG.
There has been already a lot said and written about Virat Kohli's decision to not enforce follow-on after taking lead of 292-run in the first innings in the third Test match against Australia on Friday. Most of the objection and apprehensions did not come from the fear of Australia's cricketing prowess but from the unpredictability of Melbourne weather.
As Australia managed to survive day four and the start of day five was delayed by rain- these fear and apprehensions seem to be coming true for every Indian fan.
The question on everyone's mind was - Will India manage to snatch draw from the jaws of victory here by overlooking the weather forecast? Well, they have certainly done it in the past in another Boxing Day Test.
In 1985, Kapil Dev-led India were denied victory by rain (and their strategic failure to take weather forecast into account).
India looked set for a win in the second Test match being played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground during the Australian tour in 1985. India had scored 445 runs in their first innings taking a lead of 183.
Alan Border, the great Australian captain, scored a heroic 163 in the second innings. It included 77-run partnership with Dave Gilbert for the last wicket. Australia posted 308 in their second innings leaving India with a target of 126 runs in almost two sessions.
There was the forecast of rain for the afternoon which meant India were not going to get more than 25-30 overs. India were the ODI world champions and almost the same batting line-up was present for this match.
However, Indian batsmen decided to ignore the warning and went on with their job with the kind of painful caution that only Indian batters at that time could do. Sunil Gavaskar scored 8 runs off 54 balls, Mohinder Amarnath made 3 runs off 27 balls while Vengsarkar had 1 run off 12 balls. Kris Srikkanth, maybe incapable of batting 'that well' scored 38 runs off 61 balls.
When the rain came India were 59/2 in 25 overs. The rest of the day's play was washed out. India had surrendered one of the best chances to win a Boxing Day Test in Australia.
We don't know whether Kohli and his men know the story of 1985. But they must have been worried for a moment or two when rain delayed the start on day five. Thankfully, the weather tuned in their favour on Sunday afternoon and they grabbed the final two wickets in just 27 balls.
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