The Unstoppable Green Baggies
Steve Waugh's Australian side arrived in India as arguably the greatest Test team of the modern era. They were on a world-record streak of 16 consecutive Test victories and had just dismantled India by 10 wickets in the first match in Mumbai. Waugh had famously
dubbed the tour of India as the 'Final Frontier', the one territory his all-conquering team had yet to master. At Eden Gardens for the second Test, everything seemed to be going according to their script. After winning the toss and batting, they amassed a formidable 445, with Captain Waugh himself scoring a century and Matthew Hayden adding 97. The Australian juggernaut looked relentless.
A Lone Spark and a Familiar Story
Amid the Australian dominance, a 20-year-old off-spinner provided a moment of magic. Harbhajan Singh became the first Indian to take a hat-trick in Test cricket, dismissing Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist, and Shane Warne in successive deliveries. Despite his seven-wicket haul, the broader story was one of Indian failure. The batting lineup crumbled, folding for a meagre 171. VVS Laxman was the only one to show resistance with a score of 59. Facing a massive deficit of 274 runs, Waugh enforced the follow-on, a decision that seemed logical at the time but would later be questioned. India was asked to bat again, seemingly on a fast track to a 17th straight defeat for Australia.
The Partnership That Defied Logic
When India came out for their second innings, the script began to change. VVS Laxman, who had a back injury, was promoted to bat at number three. After a few wickets fell, he was joined by Rahul Dravid, who was battling a viral fever. What followed was legendary. The pair batted through the entirety of Day 4 without being separated, turning the match on its head. Facing bowlers like Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne, Laxman played with wristy elegance while Dravid was a picture of defensive grit. They put on 376 runs together, a monumental stand that not only exhausted the Australians but instilled a glimmer of impossible hope. By the end of the day, the mood had shifted from inevitable defeat to unbelievable possibility.
An Epic Innings and a Daring Declaration
On Day 5, Laxman continued his masterclass. He eventually fell for 281, which at the time was the highest-ever individual score by an Indian in Test cricket, surpassing Sunil Gavaskar's long-standing record. Dravid was run out for a heroic 180. Captain Sourav Ganguly made a bold declaration, setting Australia a target of 384 to win in just over two sessions. The move was audacious; India was not just playing for a draw, but pushing for a win that was unthinkable 48 hours earlier. The pressure was now entirely on the seemingly unbeatable Australians.
The Final Frenzy
With a wearing pitch and the roar of a full Eden Gardens crowd behind them, India's bowlers went to work. Australia's chase, which started steadily, began to unravel against the spin of Harbhajan Singh and the unexpected threat of Sachin Tendulkar, who chipped in with three crucial wickets. Harbhajan was the chief destroyer, adding six wickets in the second innings to his seven in the first. As the final Australian wicket fell, the crowd erupted. India had won by 171 runs, becoming only the third team in Test history to win a match after being forced to follow on. The 16-Test winning streak of the mighty Australians was over.
