When Kapil did the star act

India had to wait the longest, 32 years to be precise, to win a Test series against Australia. It came under the captaincy of Sunil Gavaskar in 1979-80.

For the first time, Australia played a six-Test series in India and were the worse for it, losing 0-2, with four Tests being drawn.

Australia, led by Kim Hughes, ran into good batting form early on the tour, with Allan Border and Hughes himself scoring centuries in the first Test at Chepauk. They, however, conceded a slender lead as India scored 425 to their first innings total of 390, India did well to reduce the visitors to 212 for 7 wkts in the second essay, India did not even get a chance to bat again. Cautious batting on either side had eaten away a lot of time.

It was the same story in the second Test at Bangalore, with India keeping the one-up-manship of the totals. This time, it was the turn of Dilip Vengsarkar and Gundappa Viswanth to notch up centuries. India scored 457 to Australia's 333 and 72 for 3.

There was, however, no escape for Australia in the third Test at Kanpur. They were squarely beaten by 153 runs.

When Australia managed a small but useful lead of 33 runs, no one had visualised such a big win for India. Almost every batsman made useful contributions, as India scored 271 and 311. Australia who had a good total of 304 in the first innings, found the task of scoring 274 runs for victory heavy going against the pace-spin combination of Kapil Dev and Shivlal Yadav and folded up for 125.

The epidemic of drawn games spread to Delhi and Kolkata. At Kotla, Australia suffered the ignominy of following on. They had finished 212 runs behind India's mammoth first innings total of 510. It was a rare occasion that Sunil Gavaskar (115) and Gundappa Viswanath (131) had come together in a big partnership. They put on 159 for the third wicket.

Australia fared much better in the second innings, scoring 413, as the Test came to an indecisive end.

In the fifth Test at Kolkata, Australia held the upper hand for the first time in the series. They managed a 95-run first innings lead and even went for quick runs to try and force a decision. India held on comfortably to a draw, finishing at 200 for 4.

The sixth Test at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium provided Australia a last opportunity to level the series, but here they took their biggest tumble, losing by an innings and 100 runs. The locals were thrilled to see their hero Sunil Gavaskar come home to score another century. Syed Kirmani's maiden Test century (101) was an apt foil for Gavaskar's 123 as India declared the innings at 458 for 6 wkts.

Australia could do little against the wiles of Dilip Doshi and were bowled out for 160. They were 298 runs behind, as they were asked to follow on. Kapil Dev started the collapse and Doshi and Yadav completed it. Australia were all out for 198, leaving India winners by an innings and 100 runs. The series was won 2-0.