Australia arrived in Kolkata in March 2001 as the most dominant team in Test cricket during that era. Steve Waugh’s side had won 16 Tests in a row while India had already lost the opening match of the three-Test
series in Mumbai. The second Test at Eden Gardens looked like it was heading the same way. Instead what followed was one of the greatest comebacks in Test cricket. Australia posted 445 in their first innings, with Waugh scoring 110 and Matthew Hayden scoring 97. Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh gave India some hope with 7/123, including a hat-trick but India were bowled out for 171 in just 58.1 overs.
Australia had a lead of 274 and Sourav Ganguly’s team was forced to follow on. When the hosts slipped to 232/4 in the second innings, with Sachin Tendulkar and Ganguly back in the dressing room, the defeat seemed almost inevitable. VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid came to the crease and changed the entire course of the match.
The partnership that turned the Test around
VVS Laxman had already scored 59 in the first innings, but Ganguly made a bold decision and promoted him to No. 3 in the second innings and the right-hander responded with an innings that would eventually become the defining moment of his career. He went from 59 in the first innings to scoring 281 runs in the second innings. At the other end, Dravid simply refused to give Australia an opening. The two batted together for 376 runs with Dravid scoring 180 from 353 balls. They spent the entire fourth day at the crease and frustrated the bowling attack of the visitors and gradually turned a lost match into a genuine contest.
Let’s relive the iconic 281 by the birthday boy VVS Laxman at the Eden Gardens. pic.twitter.com/W1lROn4Viw
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) November 1, 2025
VVS Laxman attacked Shane Warne, played Glenn McGrath very well and kept finding boundaries whenever Australia offered him anything. On the other hand, Rahul Dravid provided the patience and control that allowed the partnership to continue. By the time Laxman was dismissed for 281, India had completely been in a dominating position at Eden Gardens. The hosts eventually declared at 657/7, setting Australia a target of 384 to win.
Harbhajan Singh shines as India pull off a miracle win
Australia still had a chance to escape with a draw and for a while, it looked as though they might do exactly that. Matthew Hayden scored 67 and Australia reached 166/3. Then the collapse began as off-spinner Harbhajan Singh took four more wickets in the second innings to finish with match figures of 13/196. Sachin Tendulkar also played a crucial role with three wickets as Australia lost their final seven wickets for just 56 runs.
The visitors were bowled out for 212 and India had won by 171 runs. It was only the third time in Test history that a team had won after being forced to follow on. With this win, India also ended Australia’s world-record 16-match winning streak. The result also changed the direction of the series. India went on to win the decider in Chennai and win the series 2-1. The Kolkata victory became much more than one remarkable Test. It was a statement that this side could stand up to the best team in the world and beat them even after being pushed to the edge.
Laxman’s 281 is one of the most iconic knocks in the history of Indian cricket alongside Dravid’s 180 and their 376-run partnership deserve equal credit, while Harbhajan’s 13 wickets provided the final blow. This was one of the most dramatic comebacks ever and a very memorable one for everyone involved.
