We had a camp in Chennai before the 2001 Test series. The Aussies arrived in India on a high, with that unbeaten run in Tests. So, the whole talk was about how to beat them.
Initially, I was not part of that Indian team. But since Anil Kumble was injured, Harbhajan Singh, Nilesh Kulkarni and I were given the nod.
After we lost the first Test on a rank turner, the focus shifted to Kolkata. Morale was low after we were bowled out for 171 in reply to Australia’s 445. Then we were asked to follow-on.
It was then that Chetan Chauhan and Madan Lal, who were there, had a long chat with us. Chetan recalled how he and the great Sunil Gavaskar saved so many Test matches by showing patience and choosing the right strokes.
ALSO READ | Dravid recalls Eden 2001: Fever, hospital stay and the 376 partnership with Laxman
Then we were all taken completely by surprise when V.V.S. Laxman interrupted to say, ‘We might well win the Test’. This was after our first objective had been to save the Test match. But hats off to his confidence. And what happened next is cricketing history, nothing else.
Laxman looked in a different zone, full of confidence, and the strokes were just flowing from his blade. That’s why the team management felt he should bat at No. 3, which was also the Hyderabadi’s favourite position.
There was a belief in the dressing room that Laxman would continue to bat as well as he did in the first innings. And to our delight, he was joined by Rahul Dravid. Having played a lot of cricket together since the Under-19 days, their bonding and understanding of the game were different. The way the two complemented each other was fascinating to watch.
Laxman (281) seemed ready for every challenge thrown at him. Fortunately, he had someone like Rahul for company, and India could not have asked for a better pair for that situation.
I remember John Wright telling us (the players) in the dressing room to go out, support Laxman and Rahul (180), and enjoy the whole atmosphere.
It was a stunning rearguard action that clearly rattled the Aussies, who were till then known for aggression. Slowly, they started to turn defensive, as the field placements suggested. One rarely sees two batters, Laxman and Dravid, change the face of the Test format itself with such knocks.
ALSO READ | Was only 50-60% fit: Laxman on the 281 that changed the 2001 Eden Test
For me, it was the most memorable Test match of all. The other was a Cape Town Test match in South Africa, where Sachin Tendulkar and Mohammad Azharuddin batted brilliantly in a lost cause.
Yes, the Eden Gardens game turned out to be my last Test match. But no regrets. I feel great to be part of that match.
In 1996, at the same venue, the Indian team bore the brunt of angry cricket fans when India lost to Sri Lanka in the ODI World Cup semifinal. In 2001, at the same venue, every ball played by the two greats was lustily cheered. Later, when Harbhajan Singh was on fire in the second innings, it scripted an extraordinary win.
As I said earlier, it changed the perception of a cricket fan towards Test cricket. The Indian team, from then on, has been a totally different outfit, always going for wins rather than looking for draws.
Well, the celebrations inside the dressing room went late into the night. It is not always that Aussies are beaten like that by a team that seemed out of the contest. This was even as the Steve Waugh-led team had already reached the airport on the way to the next Test. I remember getting his brother Mark out lbw! The previous ball just sailed over the stumps. So, he didn’t expect the next one to come back into him, and he missed the line to be lbw. That was also a crucial wicket eventually.
Feel privileged to be part of that great Test match. Great memories to share forever.
(As told to V.V. Subrahmanyam)
Published on Mar 14, 2026
Discover more from News Link360
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
