Once he reached curfew-bound Lahore, Mahmood was horrified by the bloodshed he witnessed there and decided to stay back in Pakistan and not tour Australia. He later became part of the Pakistani cricket team and made his Test debut in 1952-53 against India.

As whispers about the waning powers of India's batting stalwarts and the advancing years of their spin veterans grow louder, the five-test series in Australia marks the beginning of a tricky transition for the side.

Australia has always been a crucible for Indian cricketers, forging legends and revealing new talents. From Sachin Tendulkar's teenage brilliance to Rishabh Pant's fearless heroics, Indian players have consistently risen to the challenge,