How it unfolded
Australia arrived on a 16-match Test winning streak and already led the series after winning the first Test. Behind Steve Waugh's 110, Australia posted 445, and Harbhajan Singh took the first-ever Test hat-trick by an Indian bowler, dismissing Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist and Shane Warne in succession, finishing with 7 for 123. India collapsed to 171 and were forced to follow on. Everything changed on day three, when VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid came together at the fall of the fifth wicket. The pair batted through an entire day without being dismissed, adding 376 runs together; Laxman finished with 281, at the time the highest Test score by an Indian, and Dravid scored 180. India declared on 657 for 7, leaving Australia to chase 384. Harbhajan struck again on the final day with 6 for 73, finishing with 13 wickets in the match, and Australia collapsed to 212 all out. It was only the third time in Test history that a team following on had gone on to win.
Why it still matters
The match that ended Australia's 16-match winning streak and proved India could beat the world's best team at home. The Border-Gavaskar Trophy took on weight to rival the Ashes after this series, and the Indian Test team's character shifted from a defensive home side into one hunting all twenty wickets. Laxman's 281 and Harbhajan's 13 wickets remain the benchmark that redefined Indian cricket's self-belief.